Zencargo Market Update: 14 July 2026

Ocean

• Demand remains strong but is growing at a slower pace, indicating the recent volume peak has passed. 
• High FAK market rates are reducing in the second half of July compared to the first half. Certain carriers have paused continuous rate increases, and named account (NAC) space is available on CIF contracts in the market. 
• Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) remain in place due to a considerable gap between long-term contract and FAK rates.
• Market capacity remains tight in July. Long-term contract space via primary providers is heavily booked up to four weeks ahead. Carriers with more immediate space are only open for bookings two weeks ahead, despite some lines easing restriction rules.
• Container equipment availability remains a persistent issue with major carriers.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Export rates must be checked on an individual case-by-case basis. The team will look to secure optimised spot pricing depending on the specific cargo details provided.
• NGB: Air freight rates have dropped slightly this week. Bookings and rate validations require direct case-by-case verification.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: Market capacity remains tight while rate levels are stable, though certain carriers provide lower rate levels to London Heathrow (LHR) in exchange for longer transit times. Space requires a 4-to-5-day booking lead time, with select airlines able to offer earlier estimated departure dates. Moving forward, specific carrier rates are expected to maintain an elevated level.
• DLC/PEK: Rate levels across most major airlines have decreased this week, with spot rates accessible for high-density cargo. Large volume cargo requires a booking lead time of 6 to 7 days and must accept flight splitting.
• TAO: The market is slightly slack this week and space is not constrained across most European airports. Departure timelines are tracking around mid-July, and directional air freight rates to primary destination hubs have decreased, though airlines continue to release spot pricing for dense or high-volume shipments. Looking ahead, capacity to Europe is expected to remain open.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: With the onset of the summer holiday period, directional rate levels have reduced slightly. Spot rates remain highly variable and must be confirmed case by case according to the actual scheduled flight date.
• SZX: The market remains normal and stable this week. All individual shipments must be validated with the carrier case by case, with specific options available for deferred services to main European hubs.
• XMN: Air freight rates are being quoted on a strict case-by-case basis. Market trends are expected to remain stable.

Ocean

• This lane experienced  rate increases during the first half of July. However, the market has since fluctuated, with some rate reductions observed following the introduction of new capacity and a slight easing in booking confirmation times. 
• Rates for the second half of July are not yet finalised, but FAK market baselines are expected to hold and extend from the first half of the month. 
• Named account (NAC) Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) are higher in July than in June and will remain in effect throughout the month, alongside ongoing Emergency Fuel Surcharges.
• Market demand remains high, with global container demand growth currently outpacing vessel supply growth industry-wide. Despite additional capacity being deployed, bringing July Transpacific capacity to a high level not seen in at least three years, overall space remains very limited.
• Ocean transits to the US East Coast are averaging 31.4 days to New York, 31.0 days to Savannah, and 36.2 days to Charleston, while Gulf transits to Houston are tracking at 28.4 days.
• Shippers continue to frontload cargo ahead of the scheduled 24 July expiration of the Section 122 tariffs. This pull-forward behaviour drove US-bound volumes up by 14.3% year-on-year in June, reaching 2.25 million TEU.
• Congestion across US ports remains at a good, manageable level. Over the past few days, there has been a noticeable easing in operations with cargo releases being confirmed in a more timely manner. Additionally, vessel cancellation rates are forecast to remain low over the remainder of July.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Overall cargo volume has decreased, but a weekend typhoon caused significant flight delays and cancellations, directly reducing capacity. Significant rate fluctuations are expected. US Customs inspections of e-commerce goods have strengthened, and e-commerce export volumes have not significantly increased. High oil prices, flight cancellations, and reduced capacity have kept freight rates elevated. Most airlines are maintaining their current rates, with oil prices acting as the primary determining factor; significant reductions in transportation costs are unlikely until oil prices fall. Rates to the US East Coast are also expected to be highly unstable this week, with future decreases dependent on the oil market. High shipping costs persist, with limited availability for lower-priced space, while higher-priced space is relatively more accessible.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: The market is normal and rates remain stable this week. Freighter flights provide the earliest estimated departure times, with select carriers offering more competitive directional rates to LAX, SFO, and SEA. Bookings require a 6-to-7-day lead time. Future carrier rates are expected to hold at a higher level, and space and pricing must be checked case by case with specific cargo details.
• DLC/PEK: Rates across most major airlines remain stable this week. Dense cargo can access spot rates, while high-volume shipments require a 6-to-7-day booking lead time and must accept flight splitting. Future rates across all airlines are expected to hold at a higher level, requiring case-by-case verification of space and pricing based on cargo details.
• TAO: The US market is stable this week, with space remaining accessible to both the US West and East Coasts. Air freight rates have increased slightly to both coasts. Airlines continue to release spot pricing for dense or high-volume cargo. Looking ahead, space is expected to tighten and rates will remain high, requiring case-by-case checking with exact cargo details.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: With the onset of the summer holidays, directional rate levels have reduced slightly. Spot rates remain variable and must be confirmed case by case according to the actual scheduled flight date.
• SZX: The market remains stable this week. All individual shipments must be validated with the carrier case by case, with deferred service options available to both the US West and East Coasts. Rates will continue to be quoted strictly on a case-by-case basis.
• XMN: Air freight rates are decreasing. All shipments and rate validations must be checked on an individual case-by-case basis.

Ocean

• FAK rate increases have accelerated for the second half of July across main carriers
• CMA implemented a mid-July PSS that is scheduled to increase further on 22 July. 
• Lines are handling a substantial cargo backlog following multiple blank sailings, schedule rotations, and limited June departures across primary alliances. 
• Capacity from India on MSC is highly restricted through July due to blank sailings and smaller vessel deployments. Bangladesh space allocations have been reduced by carrier head offices, restricting departures to select services.
• The Australian Express service is temporarily skipping direct port calls at Rotterdam (RTM) and Felixstowe (FXT). Importers targeting the UK should utilize London Gateway (LGW) as an alternative direct routing.
• Severe monsoon rainfall, flooding, and strong winds are causing major port and landside logistics delays across the Indian Subcontinent.
• MSC is investing USD 1.4 billion in Vizhinjam Port, India’s first deepwater transhipment port. Adani Ports retains a controlling 51% stake in the development. Concurrently, state-owned CONCOR reports that India’s proposed new carrier, Bharat Lines, aims to become a top 10 global carrier within the next 20 years.

Ocean

• Carriers continue to apply July peak season surcharges on routes from Europe to the US, while additional surcharges such as Bunker Adjustment Factors (BAF) and rising fuel costs are stacking up.
• Spot rates on specific corridors, such as Rotterdam to New York, have experienced a minor upward trend, contrasting with stable base rate ranges recorded earlier in June.
• Ocean space remains tight and is expected to stay constrained through to late July. 
• Booking lead times of at least 3 to 4 weeks are required, extending to a full 4 weeks on peak lanes. Capacity is further squeezed by an 18% blank sailing rate hitting the Transatlantic lane.
• Overall trade lane reliability has improved slightly to 72.5% (an increase of 12.5%), though voyage delays persist. For the April/May period, ICL performed as the most reliable carrier on the trade lane with 100% reliability, followed by ACL at 93.6% and MSC at 87.1%. Major carriers Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL, and Evergreen tracked above 60% reliability, while remaining operators performed in the 40% to 50% range.
• European ports are facing elevated yard utilisation and operational delays. 
• Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp: Terminal yards continue to experience high yard utilisation and handling delays.
• Bremerhaven and Genoa: Both gateways continue to experience berthing delays alongside rail-related inland disruptions that are backing up carrier vessel schedules.
• US Ports: Ports across the US remain operationally stable with no significant disruptions reported.

Benelux

Antwerp

• PSA 913: Yard utilisation at normal levels of 80–85%, with reefer utilisation at 50–55%.
• PSA 869: Yard utilisation at 70–75%, with reefer utilisation at 70–75%.
• AGW: Yard utilisation increased at 75–80%, with reefer utilisation at 55–60%. Cargo opening times now required six days prior to vessel estimated time of arrival.

Rotterdam

• ECT: Yard utilisation remains elevated at 80–85%.
• RWG: Yard utilisation remains at critical levels of 80–85%.
• Delta II: Yard utilisation is low at 40–45%, with reefer utilisation at 30–35%.
• APMT Maasvlakte II: Yard utilisation elevated at 85–90%.

USA

Ocean

• LA/LB: 2 vessels waiting (up by 2), with a 7-day dwell on the rail terminals.
• Oakland: 0 vessels waiting, with a 5-day rail dwell.
• Seattle and Tacoma: 0 vessels waiting, with a 4-day dwell on rail.
• Vancouver: 2 vessels waiting (up by 1), with a 6-day dwell on rail.
• NY/NJ: 4 vessels waiting (down by 1), with a 6-day dwell on the rail.
• Savannah: 3 vessels waiting (down by 1), with a 2-day dwell on the 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.

July 2026

• 15 July (Wed): Türkiye
• 20 July (Mon): North Cyprus
• 21 July (Tue): Belgium
• 25 July (Sat): Spain*, Spain*
• 28 July (Tue): Faroe Islands*, San Marino, Spain*
• 29 July (Wed): Faroe Islands

August 2026

• 1 August (Sat): Andorra*, North Cyprus, Switzerland
• 2 August (Sun): Andorra*, Macedonia
• 3 August (Mon): Andorra*, Guernsey and Alderney*, Iceland*, Ireland (Eire), Macedonia, UK (United Kingdom)*
• 5 August (Wed): Croatia, Spain*
• 14 August (Fri): Holy See (Vatican City), Saint Helena*
• 15 August (Sat): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany*, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland*
• 20 August (Thu): Estonia, Hungary
• 21 August (Fri): Hungary
• 24 August (Mon): Ukraine
• 25 August (Tue): North Cyprus
• 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

Traffic bans

14.07.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• FR | France: 00:00 – 22:00
• LU | Luxembourg: 00:00 – 21:45
• CH | Switzerland: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00

15.07.26

• 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

16.07.26

• 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

17.07.26

• AT | Austria: 00:00 – 05:00; 22:00 – 24:00
• 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

18.07.26

• 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: 07:00 – 19:00
• GR | Greece: 08:00 – 22:00
• GR | Greece: 08:00 – 16:00
• 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: 07:00 – 19:00
• 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