Global beverage trade lane insights

State of the Industry

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Area	Trade Lane	Trade Lane Outlook	Ocean rates Q3 2026	Ocean rates Q4 2026
South America	South America to Asia	November 2: Services are facing delays on their southbound routing and some services are facing cut&run and change of calling POL. The cherry season will start on 15th of November 2026 until 3rd week of January. Reefer cargo will have priority vs the dry cargo.	Stable	Stable
South America to Asia	South America • South America to Asia •
South America	South America to Europe	November 2: Services are working normally from Chile. The delays on the cargo are mainly due to the congestion at the transhipment ports.in the coming months the capacity should change due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on water availability in the Panama Canal. Decrease of the allocation. Moreover, South America is currently experiencing a shortage of 20' dry equipment.	Stable	Stable
South America to Europe	South America • South America to Europe •
South America	South America to North America	November 2 : Direct Service to US from Chile continue to be congested and carriers are limited the space. they previlieged the RF Cargo from Peru and Ecuador which paid higher freight over 6000 USD. In the case of the undirect service, space is available; however, there are some delays at the transshipment ports. the coming months the capacity should decrease due to the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on water availability in the Panama Canal. Moreover, South America is currently experiencing a shortage of 20' dry equipment.	Stable	Stable
South America to North America	South America • South America to North America •
Europe	Europe to Oceania	September 18 - Relay services through Asia continue to encounter connection delays, due to a combination of an extended heavy peak season from Asia to Oceania, and some port congestion. Expectation is this continues with Christmas peak season. Demand for direct services is greater on space to avoid the issues with transshipment in Asia. Rotterdam continues to be structurally omitted until further notice on NEMO/AEX. London Gateway continues to be structurally omitted on PAD service.	Stable	Up
Europe to Oceania	Europe • Europe to Oceania •
Europe	Europe to North America	October 29 : Following the capacity reductions implemented during Q2 and early Q3, the Transatlantic Westbound market has returned to a more balanced position, enabling carriers to successfully introduce Peak Season Surcharges from mid-August. Market conditions are expected to remain belanced throughout Q4, although continued increases in bunker costs are adding upward pressure. Attention is now focused on the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections, which could influence trade flows and overall market volumes going forward.	Stable	Stable
North Europe to North America	Europe • Europe to North America •
Europe	Europe to Asia	October 29 : Most of the Capcity deployed is routed via Suez Canal again , Shorter Transitime are available again to reach Far East . As Bunker Cost are rising again , we expect carriers to keep Emergency Fuel Surcharge as the floating amount in Q1-2027As CNY is approaching on Earlier time vs 2026 - CNY 07/02/2027 , we recommed to shippers to prepare forecast and to place their orders in advance. recovery is to be seen in short period of time. Coming Q2/Q3 we will see the real impact of the bunker increase .	Stable	Down
Europe to Asia	Europe • Europe to Asia •
Europe	Europe to Middle East	October 29 : Middle East Region situation remains very fluid , and rates are on the rise. Congestion situation at ports create bottlenecks and backlog at the Transshipments ports . Middle East supply chains remain under pressure, with ongoing geopolitical uncertainty continuing to impact carrier network planning and operational flexibility. Operational Restrictions OPR remain elevated, including terminal capacity limitations, equipment imbalances, and restricted recovery options when vessels fall behind schedule. Despite these challenges, cargo flows remain resilient, supported by carrier network adaptations and continued deployment of capacity to maintain service continuity.	Up	Up
Europe to Middle East	Europe • Europe to Middle East •
Africa	South Africa to Europe	October 29 : Citrus Season is over and Capacity is open for 20ft and 40ft since there is less reefer on board the vessel going to Europe . Recent EQ issues due to weather situations will be continued in November due to Windy Seasons impacting port productiviy and operations , The ongoing inefficiencies at the Port of Cape Town are no longer just a logistics issue , but also they are actively crippling key export industries like wine.	Stable	Stable
South Africa to Europe	Africa • South Africa to Europe •
North America	North America to Oceania	October 29 : For Oceania, some General Rate Increases (GRIs) were announced, resulting in upward pressure on freight rates during Q4 . We will continue to monitor market conditions to determine whether these increases will be sustained and broadly accepted by the market, or whether a softening in demand will lead to rate stabilization toward the end of Q4 and into Q1 2027. At this stage, the outlook remains positive. However, for long-haul trades such as Oceania, fuel costs should continue to be taken into consideration, as they can have a meaningful impact on the overall transportation cost.	Stable	Up
North America to Oceania	North America • North America to Oceania •
North America	North America to Asia	October 29 : For Asia, freight rates remained at the lower end of the market during Q3, as the traditional peak season extended through November. Strong demand for container equipment in Asia contributed to downward pressure on westbound (WB) rates, creating opportunities for rate negotiations on new cargo volumes. Looking ahead to Q4 and Q1 2027, rates are expected to remain relatively stable at current lower levels. However, it is important to consider the total transportation cost and not focus solely on ocean freight rates. While ocean freight pricing may remain competitive, additional charges such as rail inland transportation can have a significant impact on the overall landed cost and should be factored into any rate assessment.	Stable	Stable
North America to Asia	North America • North America to Asia •
North America	North America to Europe	October 29 : Q3 rates remained stable, while Q4 rates increased, primarily driven by emergency fuel surcharges and rail emergency inland charges for cargo moving under this mode of transport. For Q1 2027 , rates are expected to remain relatively stable, subject to bunker fuel fluctuations. Carriers have maintained their current capacity levels; however, the overall outlook remains at a yellow status due to ongoing challenges in Europe. Port congestion and a shortage of trucking capacity continue to impact operations, resulting in delays at major ports. These disruptions create a ripple effect across the supply chain, leading to extended transit times, delayed deliveries, and increased overall cost and shipment durations.	Stable	Up
North America to Europe	North America • North America to Europe •
Asia	Asia to Europe	October 19 : Asia–North Europe freight market conditions are expected to soften in Q4 2026 following a stronger Q3. While peak season demand and carrier capacity discipline supported rates through Q3, increasing vessel capacity, a gradual normalization of routing through the Suez Canal, and modest European demand growth are expected to create downward pressure on freight rates. Carriers are likely to continue managing capacity through blank sailings; however, the overall market remains structurally oversupplied.	Up	Down
Asia to Europe	Asia • Asia to Europe •
Asia	Asia to North America	October 19 : Asia–North America market is expected to remain relatively firm through Q4 2026, supported by healthy import demand, year-end inventory replenishment, and continued carrier capacity management. While freight rates are likely to ease from peak-season levels as demand normalizes, underlying cargo volumes remain resilient and carriers continue to actively manage capacity through blank sailings. Market conditions are therefore expected to remain broadly balanced, with rates stabilizing at levels above historical averages despite some downward pressure as the quarter progresses.	Up	Stable
Asia to North America	Asia • Asia to North America •
Oceania	Oceania to Oceania	April 2nd - Space remains available in both directions between Australia and New Zealand, including from the key POLs of Adelaide, & Nelson. Equipment supply, particularly for flexi grade containers, can still be challenged for some carriers.	Down	Stable
Oceania to Oceania	Oceania • Oceania to Oceania •
Oceania	Oceania to Asia	April 2nd - Generally services to Asia from Australia are free to book. Ex NZ due the perishables reefer peak, space can be tigher so early bookings are necessary. The drop off in Middle East volumes has meant several carriers are looking at spot business.	Stable	Down
Oceania to Asia	Oceania • Oceania to Asia •
Oceania	Oceania to North America	April 2nd - USWC direct services remain under pressure, particularly the loop calling at Vancouver. To the USEC, the new Eagle service is now underway, and also being used for USWC ports via Roadman. Following carriers' announcement, now 2 sailings per week to USEC in addition to their existing PAD service. Equipment remains tight in Adelaide and Nelson for some carriers.	Stable	Stable
Oceania to North America	Oceania • Oceania to North America •
Oceania	Oceania to Europe	April 2nd - Space ex Australia on the direct vessels has started to ease given the fall off in Middle east. Rotterdam is still being omitted, likely to end June to retain schedule reiliability. Ex NZ the direct service is severly dry space constrained due to record reefer produce season. London Gatweway continues to be omitted on this service, with UK cargo fed from le Havre. New Eagle service, whereby cargo for Europe tranships in Crostobal, is up and running and offers the fastes service from NZ to NWC. Other carriers have also made available a service offering to Europe, where cargo is loaded on their USEC service and transhipped in Cartagena for Europe. This is to augment dry space restricted on the usual PAD direct service. Equipment remains tight in Adelaide and Nelson for some carriers	Stable	Stable
Oceania to Europe	Oceania • Oceania to Europe •
Africa	South Africa to North America	March 27 - We are still in the Reefer season for the Grapes , special is tight and available on request. 20ft remains an issues with some carriers. For a period, South Africa faced the highest tariff among key wine-exporting nations into the USA.	Stable	Stable
South Africa to North America	Africa • South Africa to North America •
Europe	Europe to Central & South America	March 6 - Rates are increasing, carriers going with PSS to address the stronger market to South America and the operational difficulties, or with increases directly related to the situation in the Middle East and bunker costs raise. Increase can be in the EUR 400 / ctnr, in particular to South America West Coast where demand exceeds capacity offered, it is more balanced to the East Coast	Stable	Up
Europe to Central & South America	Europe • Europe to Central & South America •