Asia-northern Europe spot rates hit five-month highs
- Rate increase driven by peak season demand and congestion at major European ports
- SCFI shows Asia-Northern Europe spot rates above $2,000 per teu for first time since late January
- Despite current strength, spot prices remain significantly lower than this time last year — 58.4% down for Northern Europe, 44.5% down for the Mediterranean
Spot freight rates from China to Northern Europe have surged to $2,020 per 20ft container — up 70% since early May — driven by seasonal demand and heavy port congestion. Although Red Sea rerouting continues to support prices by limiting capacity, analysts expect spot rates to decline later in 2025 as new vessels enter the market and demand softens
