Zencargo Market Update: 30th June 2025

Ocean

• Rates have continued to push higher into early July, driven by sustained demand and constrained vessel space.
• Available lift remains booked several weeks in advance, leaving limited options for late bookings.
• A notable share of capacity is being redeployed onto Transpacific loops, further tightening headhaul space to Europe.
• Carriers are exercising strict allocation controls, placing additional strain on shippers relying on long-term contracts.
• Equipment pools at major Far East load ports are generally balanced, though occasional chassis and container shortages have emerged.
• Congestion across Northern European gateways (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre) remains acute—berthing delays, barge bottlenecks and terminal turn-time slowdowns persist.
• In the UK, London Gateway continues to feel the knock-on of diverted alliance volumes, while services into Felixstowe have seen modest relief.

Air

The air freight update is in progress and will be live very soon. Stay tuned!

Ocean

• Demand is easing into July after the May-June peak, prompting carriers to trim rate levels across both U.S. West and East Coast headhauls.
• Several blank sailings have been reinstated to rebalance capacity, though overall lift availability remains sufficient for well-planned volumes.
• Carriers are adjusting their networks for July:
  • Gemini is introducing two additional West-Coast loops (including a new Tianjin call).
  • Maersk’s TP8 service will begin calling Tianjin and Qingdao on its eight-week rotation.
  • A second Maersk service will add a Yantian call on the return leg from Vietnam via South China.
• Schedule reliability has improved by roughly 4.5% month-on-month (April–May), with average late-arrival delays down by around 0.6 days year-on-year.

Air

The air freight update is in progress and will be live very soon. Stay tuned!

Ocean

• Rates out of India and Bangladesh have climbed sharply in early July amid tight capacity and rolling surcharges.
• Space remains scarce – shippers should secure bookings at least two weeks in advance to avoid offloads.
• Mother-vessel fill levels are high, leading to rollovers at feeder hubs (e.g. Port Klang, Singapore, Colombo) and minimal buffer for further delays.
• Congestion at Nhava Sheva and Mundra persists, exacerbated by recent blank sailings and stack shortages.
• Inland container availability is constrained in key hinterland markets, particularly for certain carriers.
• Schedule reliability on the Indian Subcontinent–Europe corridor has improved month-on-month by nearly eight percentage points, reaching the low-60s.
• Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd lead the trade lane in on-time arrivals (mid-90s), followed by Evergreen in the low-70s.
• The joint CMA–MSC loop remains the predominant service option, with alternatives limited under current market conditions.

Ocean

• Demand has softened since the early-June peak, easing some booking pressure.
• Yard utilisation in Antwerp remains high, compounded by a national strike on 25 June and rail closures in Hamburg—both weighing on inland operations.
• Port call delays continue across key gateways (Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven) and Southern hubs (Piraeus, Valencia, Genoa).
• Chassis and container shortages are affecting Central European origins (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Eastern Germany); carrier haulage is advised.
• Equipment availability is also tight at Lisbon, Leixões and Mersin, limiting options for backhaul bookings.
• Most carriers have deferred their Peak Season Surcharges until July (North Europe, West and East Mediterranean).

USA

• Los Angeles / Long Beach: 0 vessels waiting to berth; 5-day rail dwell
• Oakland: 1 vessel waiting; 5-day rail dwell
• Seattle / Tacoma: 1 vessel waiting; 5-day rail dwell
• New York / New Jersey: 1 vessel waiting; 5-day rail dwell
• Norfolk: 5 vessels waiting; 3-day rail dwell
• Savannah: 1 vessel waiting; 2-day rail dwell

Germany

Port of Hamburg, Germany

• Rail access to western terminals (CTA, CTB, CTH) will be suspended 4–8 July for A26 West works, affecting all inbound/outbound rail movements
• Disruptions may begin a day early and extend beyond reopening as backlogs clear
• Shippers should divert rail via Wilhelmshaven (services AL1, AL4, NE1) or Bremerhaven (services ECX, NE4) where possible

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.

• 3 Jul (Thu): Belarus
• 4 Jul (Fri): Belarus
• 5 Jul (Sat): Czech Republic, Slovakia
• 6 Jul (Sun): Czech Republic, Lithuania
• 7 Jul (Mon): Isle of Man
• 11 Jul (Fri): Belgium
• 12 Jul (Sat): UK (United Kingdom)
• 13 Jul (Sun): Montenegro
• 14 Jul (Mon): France, Montenegro, UK (United Kingdom)
• 15 Jul (Tue): Montenegro, Türkiye
• 20 Jul (Sun): North Cyprus
• 21 Jul (Mon): Belgium
• 25 Jul (Fri): Spain, Spain
• 28 Jul (Mon): Faroe Islands, San Marino, Spain
• 4 Aug (Mon): Ireland (Eire)
• 5 Aug (Tues): Croatia, Spain*
• 15 Aug (Friday): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany*, Greece, Italy, Lithuanita, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain
• 20 Aug (Weds): Estonia, Hungary
• 29 Aug (Fri): Slovakia