Zencargo Market Update: 25 August 2026

Ocean

• Peak cargo volumes have passed, and while rate decreases for the second half of August remain relatively modest, market indices show that spot rates have trended downward for six consecutive weeks, declining notably since early July, driven by unwinding European consumer demand and vessel bunching following port delays. 
• September rate levels are not yet fully established; although some carriers are extending current pricing, the broader market expectation is for rates to continue their downward trajectory.
• Overall vessel space remains tight, particularly for Named Accounts (NAC) and long-term agreements.
• While slowly improving, major carriers are still withholding full capacity allocations. 
• General FAK space remains accessible, requiring a booking lead time of roughly 7 to 14 days.
• Container equipment availability remains a persistent operational challenge.
• Recent typhoons continue to disrupt vessel operations and exacerbate port congestion as terminals work through vessel backlogs, prompting emergency communications to be issued across the network.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Directional export rates to Europe and the UK remain subject to case-by-case verification, with optimised spot pricing available based on individual cargo specifications.
• NGB: Air import rates have trended upward this week, requiring all bookings and rate validations to be confirmed directly on a case-by-case basis.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: Market remains tight, though rates are stable. Lower rates to Heathrow are available, Space and rates require case-by-case checking, with bookings requiring a 4-to-5-day lead time to secure departure dates to European hubs.
• DLC / PEK: Rates across major carriers are trending down this week. High-density cargo can access spot pricing, while large volume shipments require a 6-to-7-day booking lead time and acceptance of flight splitting.
• TAO: The market has warmed slightly this week, though space remains for most EU airports. Airlines continue to release spot pricing for dense or high-volume cargo.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: High summer temperatures are restricting aircraft payload capacity for dense cargo, putting upward pressure on spot rates. Bookings must be validated on a case-by-case basis based on actual scheduled flight dates.
• SZX: Entering the summer holiday slack period, carriers have lowered rates across the board, with cost-effective options available for deferred services to main European hubs.
• XMN: Directional export rates remain steady, requiring case-by-case verification to secure optimised pricing based on cargo details.

Ocean

• FAK spot rates were successfully increased in the second half of August, with expectations for further upward adjustments across all lanes heading into the first half of September. Rate hikes are noticeably steeper for US East Coast and Gulf destinations due to compounding Panama Canal surcharges.
• Named Account (NAC) Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) will hold throughout August with potential increases in September. Panama Canal surcharges are also being applied to NAC rates as an independent fee.
• Operational space remains critically limited. Carriers are announcing that capacity is entirely full, with major lines actively rejecting bookings at an elevated rate over the past week. To secure necessary space, shippers are strongly advised to place bookings 3 to 4 weeks in advance.
• Severe typhoons impacting Shanghai and Ningbo have exacerbated port congestion and forced vessel omissions, affecting an estimated 2.4 million TEUs. Compounded by ongoing blank sailings that have left capacity out of position, the resulting cargo backlog and vessel repositioning delays are expected to persist through the first week of September.
• Operations through the Panama Canal continue to tighten under new draft and transit restrictions. Carriers are becoming increasingly selective with bookings due to strict cargo weight limitations, and further increases to the Panama Canal Surcharge (PCS) are anticipated in the second half of September.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Rates to the US West Coast have fallen, with a decline in general tonnage and e-commerce cargo. While some flights have been cancelled for maintenance, space remains available. Rates remain relatively  elevated due to high oil prices, though East Coast rates remain more stable, with fewer price fluctuations.
• NGB: Rate and booking requests require direct case-by-case verification.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: Market capacity remains normal, with stable rate levels. Dedicated freighter flights are offering earlier departures and competitive rates to US West Coast gateways, requiring a 6-to-7-day booking lead time.
• DLC / PEK: Carrier rates remain steady this week. Spot rates are accessible for dense cargo, while large volume bookings require a 6-to-7-day lead time and acceptance of flight splitting.
• TAO: The market is busier this week, but remains stable with unconstrained capacity across both US West Coast and East Coast destinations. Rates have ticked down slightly, but airlines continue to release spot pricing for volume shipments.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: Hot weather continues to limit aircraft payload capacity, driving directional rates higher. All shipments must be quoted case by case according to departure dates.
• SZX: The market is in its slack season, with competitive rates available for deferred services into both US West Coast and East Coast gateways.
• XMN: Air freight rates on US lanes have remained stable this week, requiring strict case-by-case verification to confirm space.

Ocean

• FAK rate increases implemented for the second half of August have held firm, with some carriers pushing significant rate hikes compared to early August levels. 
• Ocean capacity remains tightly constrained. Most major carriers are managing space on a strict week-by-week allocation basis. 
• Container availability issues persist intermittently across most carriers at certain Inland Container Depots (ICDs), with 20-foot equipment proving particularly difficult to secure. To cope with ongoing capacity constraints, carriers have introduced additional transhipment stops in South Africa on select services departing the Indian Subcontinent.

Port Operations

• Nhava Sheva: The yard is heavily congested, operating at over 90% density with delays of up to 48 hours. Forecasted seasonal monsoon rains over the coming months are expected to further impact cargo and terminal operations.
• Mundra: Yard utilisation has exceeded 77%, with current delays reaching up to 24 hours.
• Chittagong: Yard utilisation is tracking around 80%, with berth waiting times currently holding at 1 to 2 days.
• Colombo (Transhipment): Vessels are facing delays of 24 to 36 hours. Berthing delays for window vessels are expected to persist for the next few weeks due to high yard density compounded by bad weather impacts.

Ocean

• Carriers are working to prevent rates from sliding. Major lines have implemented significant Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) from mid-August to prop up pricing, running counter to normal seasonal market trends. While this specific trade is not directly impacted by Middle East geopolitics, rising fuel costs and vessel repositioning continue to inflate overall freight spend.
• Vessel utilisation remains exceptionally high out of both the North Continent and the Mediterranean, driven strictly by carrier capacity management rather than a spike in demand. With overall capacity reduced during the first half of the year to balance supply, shippers must book 3 to 4 weeks in advance to secure space to the US East Coast.
• Carriers are executing a high volume of cancelled voyages on the westbound Transatlantic route, intentionally restricting available space to keep prices firm.
• Export gateways are facing multiple operational hurdles. German ports experienced a recent 24-hour strike closure, while Antwerp is dealing with minor disruptions due to holiday staffing and break requirements. London Gateway has suffered from crane issues and power outages, and Mediterranean ports are similarly impacted by holiday workforce reductions and vessel rescheduling.
• Inland rail dwell times in Canada (including Montreal, Prince Rupert, and Saint John) have stretched to over a week. Across US ports, slight disruptions persist due to general congestion, schedule instability, and specific chassis shortages in New York City.

Benelux

Antwerp

• PSA 913: Yard utilisation is at 75–80%, with reefer utilisation at 65–70%.
• PSA 869: Yard utilisation stands at a level of 55–60%, with reefer utilisation at 60–70%.
• AGW: Yard utilisation normalised to 75–80%, with reefer utilisation at 70–75%.

Rotterdam

• ECT: Yard utilisation is at an elevated level of 70–75%.
• RWG: Yard utilisation remains at a critical level of 80–85%.
• Delta II: Yard utilisation is at a low level of 35–40%, with reefer utilisation at 30–35%.
• APMT Maasvlakte II: Yard utilisation is at a higher level of 85–90%.

USA

Ocean

• LA/LB: 0 vessels waiting (down by 1), with a 7-day dwell on the rail terminals.
• Oakland: 1 vessel waiting (down by 1), with a 4-day rail dwell.
• Seattle and Tacoma: 0 vessels waiting (down by 1), with a 4-day dwell on rail.
• Vancouver (Canada): 5 vessels waiting (up by 4), with a 5-day dwell on rail.
• NY/NJ: 1 vessel waiting (down by 2), with a 4-day dwell on rail.
• Savannah: 3 vessels waiting (down by 4), with a 4-day dwell on rail.

Europe Public Holidays

We anticipate a shortage of availability and the occurrence of delays around the bank holiday periods. Plan ahead and allow extra time for your products to be delivered.

August 2026

• 27 August (Thu): Moldova
• 29 August (Sat): Slovakia
• 30 August (Sun): North Cyprus, Türkiye
• 31 August (Mon): Gibraltar, Guernsey and Alderney, Isle of Man, Jersey, Moldova, Saint Helena, UK (United Kingdom), UK (United Kingdom)

September 2026

• 2 September (Wed): Spain, Transdniestria (PMR)
• 3 September (Thu): San Marino
• 5 September (Sat): Albania
• 6 September (Sun): Bulgaria
• 7 September (Mon): Albania, Bulgaria, Luxembourg
• 8 September (Tue): Andorra, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malta, Spain
• 10 September (Thu): Gibraltar, Switzerland
• 11 September (Fri): Spain
• 15 September (Tue): Slovakia, Spain
• 17 September (Thu): Holy See (Vatican City), Spain
• 20 September (Sun): Germany
• 21 September (Mon): Malta, Switzerland
• 22 September (Tue): Bulgaria
• 24 September (Thu): Austria
• 25 September (Fri): Switzerland
• 27 September (Sun): Belgium
• 28 September (Mon): Czech Republic

October 2026

• 1 October (Thu): Cyprus, San Marino
• 3 October (Sat): Germany
• 4 October (Sun): Italy
• 5 October (Mon): Portugal
• 9 October (Fri): Spain*
• 10 October (Sat): Austria*
• 11 October (Sun): Macedonia
• 12 October (Mon): Macedonia, Spain
• 14 October (Wed): Moldova*
• 23 October (Fri): Hungary, Macedonia
• 26 October (Mon): Austria, Ireland (Eire)
• 28 October (Wed): Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Türkiye*
• 29 October (Thu): North Cyprus, Türkiye
• 31 October (Sat): Finland, Germany*, Slovenia, Sweden, Åland (Ahvenanmaa)

November 2026

• 1 November (Sun): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), Croatia, France, Germany, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland*
• 2 November (Mon): Belgium*, Lithuania, Monaco, San Marino, Spain*
• 4 November (Wed): Russia
• 7 November (Sat): Belarus
• 9 November (Mon): Spain*
• 11 November (Wed): Austria*, Belgium, France, Poland, Serbia
• 13 November (Fri): Montenegro, Saint Helena
• 14 November (Sat): Montenegro
• 15 November (Sun): Austria*, Belgium*, North Cyprus
• 17 November (Tue): Czech Republic
• 18 November (Wed): Croatia, Germany*, Latvia
• 19 November (Thu): Monaco
• 21 November (Sat): Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH)*
• 22 November (Sun): Albania
• 23 November (Mon): Albania
• 25 November (Wed): Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH)*
• 28 November (Sat): Albania
• 29 November (Sun): Albania
• 30 November (Mon): Albania, Romania

Traffic bans

25.08.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00

26.08.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00

27.08.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00

28.08.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• BG | Bulgaria: 16:00 – 22:00
• CZ | Czech Republic: 17:00 – 21:00
• GR | Greece: 16:00 – 21:00
• GR | Greece: 15:00 – 22:00
• PL | Poland: 18:00 – 22:00
• RO | Romania: 12:00 – 22:00
• RO | Romania: 18:00 – 22:00
• RO | Romania: 06:00 – 22:00
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00

29.08.26

• AT | Austria: 15:00 – 24:00
• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• AT | Austria: 08:00 – 15:00
• AT | Austria: 07:00 – 15:00
• HR | Croatia: 04:00 – 14:00
• CZ | Czech Republic: 07:00 – 13:00
• FR | France: 22:00 – 24:00
• GR | Greece: 08:00 – 16:00
• GR | Greece: 08:00 – 22:00
• LU | Luxembourg: 21:30 – 24:00
• LU | Luxembourg: 23:30 – 24:00
• DE | Germany: 07:00 – 20:00
• PL | Poland: 08:00 – 14:00
• RO | Romania: 06:00 – 22:00
• SK | Slovakia: 00:00 – 22:00
• SI | Slovenia: 06:00 – 16:00
• SI | Slovenia: 08:00 – 13:00
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• HU | Hungary: 15:00 – 24:00
• IT | Italy: 08:00 – 16:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00