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Carriers Pull Sailings and Add GRIs as US Port Fees Add New Cost Layer

Oct 14, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Container lines are tightening capacity to defend freight rates just as new U.S. port fees on China vessels start on 14 October—costs that carriers say will be passed through to shippers.

In the run-up to contracting season, the shipping alliances have stepped up blank sailings to support pricing. Between weeks 42–46, carriers withdrew 41 of 716 planned east–west sailings with the heaviest cuts on the transpacific and Asia–Europe corridors. It means that 6% of capacity, or 544,000 TEU have been stripped from transpacific and Asia–Europe trade-lanes over the past four weeks. 

Spot rates remain soft, with Drewry’s composite World Container Index dipping 1% in week 41, as carriers signal fresh GRIs of up to $2,300/teu and congestion/peak surcharges as they curb supply with voids and slow steaming.

USTR port fees are active

From 14 October, the United States is imposing USTR “special port service fees” on China-linked tonnage, with payment required in advance of arrival to avoid being denied lading, unlading or clearance.

For Chinese-owned/operated vessels, the fee starts at $50 per net ton, stepping up annually to 2028. For Chinese-built ships (not China-operated), the fee is the higher of $18 per net ton or $120 per discharged container, while foreign-built vehicle carriers face $46 per net ton from today.

What it means for shippers

  • The USTR regime adds a new fixed cost per container on top of base ocean rates and surcharges, and carriers are preparing pass-throughs.
  • With 6% of departures already pulled on main east–west trades and more voids likely, load factors are rising on the sailings that remain, which will add upward price pressure.
  • U.S. rules emphasise USTR pre-payment and proof on arrival, with non-compliance risks of port denial, cascading delays to inland supply chains and additional cost.

The container shipping lines are using their capacity and surcharge levers to prop up rates, while the USTR/China port fees, effective from last Tuesday, inject a non-market cost that will filter through to shippers. Expect more targeted blanks, GRIs with short notice, and more surcharges on Asia–Europe and transpacific flows into November.

At Metro, we work hand-in-hand with our network and carrier partners to keep cargo moving, even when the market is disrupted.

From time-sensitive shipments to sudden blankings, our sea freight team secure the right space to safeguard your supply chains and shield you from GRIs.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today to explore how we can protect your US supply chains and insulate you from threatened GRIs.

strike at port

Rotterdam Strike Suspended as Europe’s Port Disputes Worsen

Oct 14, 2025 | , ,

Europe’s container ports may see a short reprieve following a court-mediated agreement to pause a major strike at the Port of Rotterdam, but broader port disruption continues to threaten sea  freight flows across the continent.

Hundreds of lashers at Europe’s busiest container terminal suspended their walkout for five days on Monday 13 October to Friday 17 October, under terms agreed after legal intervention and fresh negotiations between unions and employer associations. The temporary halt offers a breathing space for business operators and shippers facing backlog pressure.

The strike, which began last Wednesday, had brought loading and unloading at all Rotterdam container berths to a standstill, accumulating a significant queue of vessels anchored offshore. The lashers, who are responsible for securing containers on ships, had demanded a pay increase and better conditions, asserting that the port could not function without their services.

Under last Saturday’s court ruling, unions and employers pledged to resume talks on Sunday morning. The agreement allows the walkout to pause while negotiations continue, but warns that striking may resume if no deal materialises by Friday morning.

Wider Toll on European Ports

Rotterdam’s crisis is hardly isolated. Industrial unrest has swelled across Northern Europe, compounding congestion that was already mounting due to vessel re-deployments, yard overcapacity, and adverse weather.

At the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, harbour pilots have initiated work-to-rule protests over proposed pension reforms. Their action has aggravated scheduling delays and snarled traffic entering and leaving the Belgian ports. Antwerp authorities reported dozens of vessels without confirmed berths. With Antwerp already facing backlog pressure, it has limited ability to absorb overflow from Rotterdam.

The strikes and bottlenecks they are creating have triggered ripple effects through Europe’s logistics networks, with delayed container loading, longer turnaround times, and route reassignments.

The Outlook

The five-day pause in Rotterdam will help clear some of the backlog, but if wage talks fail, strikes could quickly resume, deepening disruption across Europe’s ports. However, shippers remain exposed to bottlenecks, rising costs, and delivery uncertainty as supply chains strain under the pressure. Antwerp’s limited spare capacity offers little relief, and other ports may struggle to absorb diverted traffic amid already congested terminals.

At the heart of the dispute lie wage and labour tensions, with lashers demanding a 7% pay rise plus inflation adjustment, a cost many operators claim the industry can not afford in a tightening logistics labour market, raising the spectre of prolonged labour disputes.

Metro’s sea freight team are monitoring the evolving situation and working closely with customs, ports, and European logistics colleagues to minimise disruption and keep customers’ supply chains moving.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today.

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Transatlantic Sea Freight Steadies

Oct 14, 2025 | , ,

The North Europe to US, transatlantic trade-lane, is settling into a more predictable rhythm, after a trade deal and took much of the guesswork out of export planning, while carriers have lifted reliability and held blank sailings to minimal levels. 

The result is a market where prices are easing but services are firmer, though the traditional peak looks unlikely.

Westbound volumes have risen 2% year on year, defying earlier expectations of heavy front-loading, while the slots deployed  by carriers are 7% higher than 2024, giving buyers more choice and competitive pricing.

On the reliability front, Europe toUS on-time performance has surged to 52% in Q2 vs Q1, with August the best month since October 2023.

Pricing pressure without panic

While price benchmarks are trending down they are not collapsing. 

Long-term deals signed over the prior three months are down under a third, while average spot rates fell 20% over the last three months. However, despite the softer prices, carriers have not resorted to large-scale blankings, a signal that underlying demand remains sound and that utilisation on sailing vessels is still healthy.

Service quality has moved decisively in the right direction. On-time performance on North Europe to US routes has improved from 24% in January to 58%, while the Mediterranean to US leg has nudged up from 24% to 36%. 

One alliance has consistently posted 92% reliability on the transatlantic in H1, far ahead of non-alliance services and standalone carriers (36%), underlining the advantage of integrated rotations. The challenge now is keeping performance high through winter weather and any land-side pinch points.

With inventories in better balance and retailers expecting low growth for winter, the consensus is no classic peak in late 2025. Expect stable demand, ample capacity and rates in range into year-end unless weather or labour disruptions intrude.

What shippers should do now

  • Prioritise services with proven on-time performance and shorter port strings to reduce dwell and downstream buffer stock.
  • Use today’s attractive rates to book core volumes and keep tactical headroom on spot.
  • Backhaul eastbound pricing remains sensitive so secure equipment and minimise roll risk.
  • The policy environment is calmer, but not static; maintain landed-cost models that can absorb incremental fees without re-quoting.

With long-established ocean carrier relationships, our team is helping clients secure space, optimise rates, and keep high-priority cargo moving on transatlantic lanes.

If your business depends on dependable transatlantic trade flows, EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today to discover how expert guidance and tailored solutions can keep your supply chain agile and cost-effective, whatever the market brings.

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Blank Sailings, GRIs and a Typhoon Disrupt Asia Shipping

Sep 30, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shippers moving goods out of Asia are bracing for the tightest space and schedule disruptions as the major container shipping lines accelerate blank sailings in the lead-up to China’s extended Golden Week holidays.

Following weeks of tentative planning, lines have now confirmed broad capacity withdrawals, cancelling between 14–17% of sailings on core Asia–Europe and Asia–US routes to offset softer demand amid seasonal and weather challenges.

The unprecedented combination of Golden Week and the Mid-Autumn Festival has pushed factory shutdowns to an eight-day stretch this year, pausing exports at the world’s manufacturing hub.

Just days before the holiday, Super Typhoon Ragasa hammered South China, triggering port closures, flight cancellations, and severe equipment shortages. Local experts now expect cargo backlogs and shipping delays to stack up for at least a week beyond the holiday’s official end, intensifying the regional congestion and supply chain volatility.

Carrier Alliances Adjust Rapidly

Analysis of carrier announcements reveals distinct strategies among the largest ocean alliances. Early movers blanked sailings soon after market signals softened, while others opted for aggressive, late-stage cuts in the final pre-holiday weeks. Whether by steady withdrawals or front-loaded cancellations, overall capacity reductions are now on par with historical Golden Week patterns, yet the scale and timing of adjustments this year dwarf previous years and reflect the urgent need for carriers to rebalance supply with dampened demand.

In parallel with capacity cuts, carriers are moving to restore profitability through new general rate increases (GRIs). One major line has announced GRIs effective from early October:

  • Far East–North Europe: $1,200 per 20ft and $2,000 per 40ft.
  • Far East–West Mediterranean: $1,750 per 20ft and $2,500 per 40ft.
  • Far East–East Mediterranean: $1,800–$2,150 per 20ft and $2,600–$2,700 per 40ft, depending on destination.

Meanwhile, another leading carrier has confirmed a peak season surcharge on the westbound transatlantic, at $400 per 20ft and $600 per 40ft.

These surcharges highlight how quickly pricing can swing when capacity is withheld and seasonal demand shifts.

Adding to the disruption, last week’s Typhoon Ragasa forced widespread factory closures and halted container movements across South China. Surges in trucking and equipment charges at origin have been exacerbated by the post-typhoon scramble.

Why Carriers Blank Sailings

Blank sailings, a carrier’s decision to skip or cancel specific port calls, or even entire voyages, are a crucial tool for controlling costs and freight market stability. These cancellations can occur due to falling demand, port congestion, storms, mechanical breakdowns, or as part of a calculated strategy to support freight rates in an oversupplied market.

Blank sailings happen for several reasons:

  • Low demand – such as after Chinese New Year or Golden Week.
  • Port congestion – strikes, bottlenecks, or canal delays.
  • Weather disruptions – storms or unsafe docking conditions.
  • Mechanical issues – urgent vessel repairs.
  • Market strategy – cutting supply to stabilise freight rates.
  • Regulatory or political disruption – new rules or regional instability.

The Shipper’s Challenge

Blank sailings mean longer lead times, unpredictable offloads, and more frequent cargo rollovers. Freight may get rerouted, remain at origin for extended periods, or be consolidated on later vessels, driving both and planning complexity up.

To keep shipments moving and mitigate delays, shippers should:

  • Build more time buffers into supply chain schedules during holiday and storm periods.
  • Use tracking and analytics tools for early indications of disruption.
  • Diversify carriers, prioritising reliability and fast rerouting capabilities.
  • Communicate proactively about possible delivery delays.
  • Explore alternative transport modes for urgent consignments.

With volumes likely to stay subdued until the seasonal year-end surge, further blank sailings could be triggered in response to lingering congestion and uneven recovery.

The weeks ahead demand vigilance, agility, and close collaboration.

At Metro, we work hand-in-hand with our network and carrier partners across China to keep your cargo moving, even when the market is disrupted. From time-sensitive shipments to sudden blankings, our sea freight team finds the capacity and alternative solutions you need.

By sharing forecasts on critical dates and volumes, you’ll help us secure the right space to safeguard your supply chains and shield you from looming GRIs.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, today to explore how we can protect your ex-Asia supply chains and insulate you from threatened GRIs.

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