Spot box rates on the China–India intra-Asia tradelane have more than doubled since July as carriers shift capacity away and Indian import volumes climb, pressuring vessel space ahead of peak season.
Shanghai–Chennai bookings rose about 25% month-on-month to roughly $3,600 per teu and $3,900 per 40ft.
Carriers have repositioned capacity to higher-yield east–west trades, tightening vessel supply on the China–India corridor even as India’s factories and retailers increase imports.
The month-on-month rate increase on Shanghai-Chennai bookings has been even sharper, up 25% on average, now hovering at around $3,600 per teu and $3,900 per 40ft. Spot rates on China-India trades have more than doubled since July, as carriers relocated capacity to other higher-yielding routes, mainly east-west trades. That expansion seems to have accelerated, with the value of Chinese goods landed in India this fiscal year estimated to have surged 27%, to $65bn, in the first five months through August, data shows.
Regional niche carrier TS Lines has recently expanded its intra-Asia trade coverage by launching a new loop. Its China–West India Express 2 (CWX2) calls Shanghai–Ningbo–Shekou–Port Klang–Nhava Sheva (JNPA)–Hazira-Mundra–Port Klang–Shanghai on a 42-day round-trip. CULines has also expanded operations in the intra-Asia market, seizing on the opportunity after SeaLead ceased services.
"The surge is driven by an industrial paradox," he told The Loadstar.
Container freight rates on the India-Middle East trade have continued to climb, as ports in the conflict-affected region grapple with operational challenges. According to data from market sources, spot rates from India to the Middle East have spiked by 25%, to 40%, since the last week of August, as vessel capacity pres
Indian container trade stakeholders at JNPA (Nhava Sheva Port) are reporting a growing shortage of empty boxes for exports, as widespread vessel schedule disruption weighs on equipment shipping cycles. The shortage of empties is especially acute for French liner CMA CGM, according to market updates, but is affecting mo
Intra-Asia freight rates rose for the fifth straight week as typhoon-related congestion in China and bottlenecks in transhipment ports Busan, Hong Kong, and Singapore tied up vessel supply. On 3 September, the Drewry Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) climbed 9% from 27 August, to $1,312 per 40ft, as typhoon-related por
Unrelenting congestion and rising bunker prices have pushed intra-Asia rates up for a month. Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index climbed for a fourth straight week, with typhoon and geopolitical disruptions combining with pre-Golden Week (1 October) demand to drive up spot rates across key routes. On 17 September, intr
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