Zencargo Market Update: 19 May 2026

Ocean

• Demand has seen a sudden increase as shippers advance cargo ahead of the upcoming summer peak season. 
• Carriers pushed forward with rate increases for the summer peak. The SCFI has started to reflect this trend since the beginning of May, showing a significant upward trajectory for the second half of the month. Consequently, rate levels have moved higher from the first half to the second half of May.
• Emergency Bunker Surcharges (EBS) remain in place without any changes.
• Space is extremely tight and is currently fully booked until the start of week 24. Shippers are advised that securing space requires booking 3 to 6 weeks in advance.
• Market space is being released under NACs and long-term deals if booked 4-5 weeks ahead, leaving only FAK space as a potential option for the end of May.
• May blank sailings are primarily concentrated within the PA/OA alliance, with five blank sailings scheduled for the second half of the month. These cancellations are affecting both the UK and North Continent, which is subsequently pushing more cargo volume onto other carriers.
• Operational delays are currently affecting Chinese ports due to the fog season. Shippers should expect delays of 6-12 hours in South China, 24-48 hours in Central China, and 36-48 hours in North China.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Shippers are advised to check rates on a case-by-case basis, with final pricing dependent on specific cargo details.
• NGB: Demand into Germany is increasing, leading to a highly active market with tightening space. All rates must be checked case by case.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: The market is tight with rates remaining stable but at a higher level overall. Securing space requires 5-6 days of advance booking, and rates must always be checked case by case with cargo details.
• DLC/PEK: The market is slightly tight; dense cargo can apply for spot rates, but volume cargo requires 6-7 days of advance booking and the acceptance of flight splits. Space and rates must be checked case by case.
• TAO: The market to Europe is slightly busy this week, with tight space to most hubs. Spot rates are available, but shipments must be checked case by case.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: The market is returning to normal, but rates are rising and flight space is tight. Spot rates must be checked case by case according to actual flight dates.
• SZX: Market demand is trending upward. All shipments and deferred services to main EU airports should be checked with carriers case by case.
• XMN: Conditions are expected to remain largely unchanged this week, with rates quoted case by case.

Ocean

• Demand remains strong and has picked up for May, while overall capacity has been reduced. Currently, only 78% of usual capacity is deployed for the month of May.
• This capacity crunch, combined with high demand, is exacerbating space issues across the trade; consequently, carriers are restricting NAC bookings and pushing more volume onto FAK rates.
• Shippers are strongly advised to plan ahead, with a recommended lead time of three weeks.
• Rates for the second half of May fluctuated multiple times but are now confirmed at a higher level than the first half of the month. There is also the potential for further rate increases going into June.
• The Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) remains in effect and will be subject to review at the end of May. A Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on NACs is likely to be introduced in June.

Air

Central China (SHA/NGB)

• SHA: Due to ongoing fuel cost issues, major airlines have cut some flights, resulting in a massive increase in freight rates, which currently remain at a very high level. There is no indication that airlines will reduce rates; conversely, they may increase further as oil prices remain the primary factor dictating transport costs.
• Space for lower-priced options is extremely limited, with availability heavily favouring higher price tiers.
• Rates to the US East Coast are tracking even higher and are not expected to reduce in the following weeks, dependent entirely on the oil market.

North China (DLC/TSN/TAO/PEK)

• TSN: The market is stable, with freighter flights providing the earliest departure space and comparatively better rates to US West Coast destinations (LAX/SFO/SEA). Space requires 6-7 days of advance booking, and rates must be checked case by case.
• DLC/PEK: Rates are holding stable. Dense cargo can secure spot rates, while volume cargo requires 6-7 days of advance booking and the acceptance of flight splits. Space and rates must always be checked case by case.
• TAO: The market to the US is busy this week with tight space to both the West and East coasts, and rates are trending upward. Airlines are releasing spot rates for dense and volume cargo, but all shipments must be checked case by case.

South China (CAN/SZX/XMN)

• CAN: Market demand and freight rates are rising, with space remaining tight. Spot rates must be checked case by case according to actual flight dates.
• SZX: Market demand is trending upward. All shipments to both the US West and East coasts should be checked with carriers case by case.
• XMN: Conditions are anticipated to remain similar this week, with pricing quoted entirely on a case-by-case basis.

Ocean

• ISC FAK rates originating from North West India remain relatively stable, whilst seeing some decreases from main Indian ports.  Rates from North West India to North Europe are holding at a mid-low level, while FAK rates from Chittagong going into the second half of May also remain relatively stable, tracking at a mid-low level to North Europe.
• Port operations in Mundra are running smoothly, but Nhava Sheva is suffering from heavy congestion once again, and Chennai is also experiencing severe congestion.
• The overall situation in Bangladesh is steady, with only minor berthing congestion causing delays of one to two days.
• The government of Bangladesh has decreed a week-long Eid holiday beginning on 25 May.
• Schedule reliability on the Indian Subcontinent to Europe trade lane decreased by 3.8 percentage points month-on-month in February and March 2026, falling to 51.6%.
• MSC was one of the most reliable carriers on this trade lane in February and March 2026, achieving a rate of 69%, while CMA hit 58%.
• Top performing services for on-time reliability included the MSC/CMA Australia Express at 72.20%, the MSC Britannia at 70%, and the MSC NWC to IPAK at 65.70%.

Ocean

• Demand currently remains soft, but schedule changes are having a significant impact on available space.
• High rate levels continue on this trade lane, having increased significantly in recent weeks compared to levels seen in April. Carriers are successfully controlling capacity and sustaining these elevated rates through an aggressive blank sailing programme, a notable shift from the massive oversupply of vessel space seen late last year.
• Blank sailings on the Transatlantic trade currently account for approximately 17% of total global blank sailings.
• Overall schedule reliability continues to be low but there has been a slight increase in reliability on the trade, rising from 44.2% to 46.4%, although this still tracks below last year’s figure of 51.9%.
• ACL maintains its position as the leading performer with a reliability of 88.4%, despite a drop in performance from the previous month, followed by ICL at 76.5%.
• Some European ports continue to face operational issues: UK ports are experiencing disruption, including IT outages and vessel waiting times reported at around two days.

Benelux

Antwerp

• PSA 913: Yard utilisation is elevated at 80% to 85%, with reefer utilisation at 60% to 65%.
• PSA 869: Yard utilisation stands at a level of 70% to 75%, with reefer on normal utilisation of 50% to 55%.
• AGW: Yard utilisation has remained increased at 70% to 75%, with reefer utilisation reducing to 60% to 65%.
• AGW (Empties & Cargo): Empties are fluctuating between 55% and 80%, and cargo opening times are now set to 6 days prior to vessel ETA.
• A national strike took place in Belgium on 12 May, which passed without causing any impact on vessel handlings.

Rotterdam

• ECT: The yard is on an elevated level of 70% to 75% utilisation.
• RWG: Yard utilisation has remained on a critical level of 80% to 85% utilisation.
• DELTA II: The yard is on a low level of 40% to 45% utilisation, with reefers at a level of 30% to 35%.
• APMT MVII: The yard is currently at a higher level of 90% to 95% utilisation.

USA

Ocean

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

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.

• 21 April (Tue): Belarus.
• 23 April (Thu): Iceland, North Cyprus, Spain*, Spain*, Türkiye.

• 19 May (Tue): North Cyprus, Türkiye.
• 21 May (Thu): Montenegro, Saint Helena.
• 22 May (Fri): Montenegro.
• 23 May (Sat): Sweden*.
• 24 May (Sun): Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany*, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Åland (Ahvenanmaa).
• 25 May (Mon): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), Guernsey and Alderney, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Saint Helena, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Switzerland*, UK (United Kingdom).
• 26 May (Tue): Türkiye*.
• 27 May (Wed): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), Kosovo, North Cyprus, Spain, Spain*, Türkiye.
• 28 May (Thu): North Cyprus, Türkiye.
• 29 May (Fri): North Cyprus, Türkiye.
• 30 May (Sat): Croatia, North Cyprus, Spain*, Türkiye.
• 31 May (Sun): Greece, Romania, Ukraine.
• 1 June (Mon): Cyprus, Greece, Ireland (Eire), Moldova, Romania, Romania, Ukraine.
• 2 June (Tue): Italy.
• 4 June (Thu): Austria, Croatia, Germany*, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain*, Switzerland*.
• 5 June (Fri): Denmark*, Faroe Islands*, Isle of Man.
• 6 June (Sat): Sweden.
• 7 June (Sun): Lithuania, Malta.
• 9 June (Tue): Spain*, Spain*, Åland (Ahvenanmaa).
• 10 June (Wed): Portugal.
• 12 June (Fri): Russia.
• 13 June (Sat): Portugal*, Russia, Spain*.
• 14 June (Sun): Russia.
• 15 June (Mon): Gibraltar, UK (United Kingdom)*.
• 17 June (Wed): Iceland.
• 19 June (Fri): Finland*, Sweden*, Åland (Ahvenanmaa)*.
• 20 June (Sat): Finland, Sweden, Åland (Ahvenanmaa).
• 21 June (Sun): Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)*.
• 22 June (Mon): Croatia, Estonia*, Latvia.
• 23 June (Tue): Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Switzerland*.
• 24 June (Wed): Andorra*, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain*.
• 25 June (Thu): Slovenia.
• 28 June (Sun): Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH)*, Ukraine.
• 29 June (Mon): Holy See (Vatican City), Italy*, Malta, Switzerland*, Ukraine.

Traffic bans

19.05.2026

• 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

20.05.2026

• 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

21.05.2026

• 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

22.05.2026

• AT | Austria 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00
• AT | Austria 07:00-22:00
• BG | Bulgaria 15:00-20:00
• CH | Switzerland 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00

23.05.2026

• AT | Austria 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00
• AT | Austria 07:00-15:00
• AT | Austria 15:00-24:00
• BG | Bulgaria 09:00-14:00
• CH | Switzerland 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00
• FR | France 22:00-24:00
• HU | Hungary 22:00-24:00
• LI | Liechtenstein 00:00-05:00; 22:00-24:00
• LU | Luxembourg 21:30-24:00
• LU | Luxembourg 23:30-24:00
• PL | Poland 18:00-22:00