Maritime freight rates from the Far East to the United States peaked on October 1, 2026, and it seems that the market has reached its highest point since the Hormuz crisis. According to reports, freight rates to the East and West coasts of the United States increased by 1.4 percent and 0.7 percent respectively compared to last week, reaching $11,523 and $8,346 for each 40-foot container (FEU). These rates have increased by 344.2 percent and 334.7 percent respectively compared to February 28, 2026, which was before the Hormuz crisis.
Reasons for Rate Increases and Market Status
One of the main reasons for this increase is the decrease in traffic at Asian ports due to the end of the storm season and national holidays in China, which have reduced exports in the first week of October. These factors have caused maritime freight markets to face significant changes during this period. However, it is expected that these rates will gradually decrease throughout the remainder of 2026, although a severe drop is not anticipated.
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Analysis of Rate Changes and Future Predictions
Predictions indicate that rates have generally peaked, and based on analyses conducted, it is expected that transportation costs will remain high for the remainder of 2026. In particular, freight rates to the East Coast of the United States may decrease significantly more than those to the West Coast. Currently, the gap between the rates of the two coasts has reached $3,177 per FEU, while on February 28, 2026, this gap was only $772.
Looking ahead, freight rates for the East Coast of the United States may range from $6,000 to $7,000, and for the West Coast around $4,500 to $5,500. These changes could lead to significant adjustments, but analysts say a severe drop is not expected.
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