Zencargo Market Update: 31st July 2025

Ocean

• After a brief decline in July, August has seen another round of increases on some carriers, with rates climbing back to early July levels. Demand remains strong, with vessels still full into late August. Bookings placed without sufficient lead time are likely to face extended dwell times.
• Cargo rolling continues to be reported, while blank sailings are playing a significant role in supporting rate increases where carriers have full coverage.
• Equipment availability is generally stable, though equipment release is being used by carriers to manage overbooking.
• Schedule reliability continues its gradual improvement, now averaging 68.2% with delays of around 4.34 days. Performance varies widely, with Gemini leading at 92.2%, while PA lags behind at 33.8%. MSC has declined notably to 57.7%.
• Northern European congestion remains unresolved. Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, and Le Havre all continue to report delays. In the UK, London Gateway remains the most problematic port, with severe haulier delays leading to new surcharges being introduced.

Air

Central China

• Shanghai (SHA): Market conditions remain steady with midweek capacity generally stable. Some allotments have been cancelled, so early booking is recommended.
• Ningbo (NGB): Capacity is open and the market is stable. Airlines continue to release spot options for dense or volume cargo.

North China

• Tianjin (TSN): Market is running hot. Mainline carriers offer earlier ETDs via freighter services; bookings should be made 4–5 days in advance.
• Dalian / Beijing (DLC / PEK): Most carriers are keeping rates stable. Dense cargo can still access spot space, while larger shipments need 6–7 days’ notice and may be split across flights.
• Qingdao (TAO): Conditions remain stable with ETDs around the end of July, with EU rates predicted to fall. Airlines continue to offer spot opportunities for dense freight.

South China

• Guangzhou (CAN): Market is normal, though high temperatures may limit capacity on some services.
• Shenzhen (SZX): Stable conditions with deferred service options to major European hubs; bookings remain case-by-case.
• Xiamen (XMN): Market remains steady, with carriers confirming availability individually at booking.

Ocean

• Demand remains flat, with no surge in volume expected for August.
• Overall capacity deployment is tightening, decreasing from 80–90% in July to 75–86% expected in August.
• MSC’s ‘America’ service, launched with Zim, is reducing capacity. The fleet adjustment lowers weekly deployment by ~12% and overall capacity by 18%.
• The ten largest US ports reported a 7.9% year-on-year decline in inbound container volume in June — the second consecutive monthly fall. Outbound volumes also dropped by 5%.
• Despite the decline, Los Angeles recorded its busiest June on record, handling 892,000 TEU, an 8% increase versus 2024.
• Port congestion remains under control, with no significant service disruptions reported.

Air

Central China

• Shanghai (SHA): Capacity to both coasts remains steady, though hot weather is impacting allotment stability. Early confirmation is advised, especially for dense cargo.
• Ningbo (NGB): The market is balanced, with capacity managed case by case depending on shipment profile.

North Chin

• Tianjin (TSN): Market remains warm, with freighter services offering the most reliable uplift. Bookings should be made 4–5 days in advance.
• Dalian / Beijing (DLC / PEK): Conditions are stable. Spot opportunities exist for dense shipments, but larger volumes require more lead time and may be split.
• Qingdao (TAO): Market remains steady. Space is somewhat tighter into the U.S. East Coast than West Coast, with airlines managing allocations closely.

South China

• Guangzhou (CAN): Market conditions are normal, though high summer temperatures may affect loadability.
• Shenzhen (SZX): Market remains stable; all bookings handled on a case-by-case basis with carriers.
• Xiamen (XMN): Conditions are steady, with airlines confirming final space based on actual flight schedules.

Ocean

• IN to NEU August rates are rising across major carriers, while BD to NEU is also seeing upward adjustments.
• Equipment shortages continue in inland container depots (ICDs) for certain carriers (HPL/HMM/ONE).
• Heavy rainfall in North India is disrupting inland transport, particularly trucking and rail. Ports at Mundra and Nhava Sheva are coping better, though delays persist.
• Yard occupancy in Chittagong is around 90%, creating significant backlogs. Geared vessels are facing 4–5 days’ delay, while gearless vessels are waiting 8–9 days. Around 25 vessels are currently at anchorage. Container Freight Station (CFS) yards are operating above 200% capacity, with ~60% of cargo stuck inside.
• CMA CGM is working to reinstate Karachi calls on EPIC service, though monsoon-driven draft restrictions are complicating operations. Some carriers are diverting cargo to maximise Pakistan volumes while reducing heavy loadings from India.
• Shippers are advised to book at least 2–3 weeks in advance to secure target sailings.

Ocean

• Antwerp is experiencing dwell times of over eight days, with yard utilisation exceeding 90%. Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven are also reporting 80–85% yard usage, leading to vessel delays of two to four days. 
• Southern European ports such as Piraeus, Genoa, and Valencia continue to face yard overcrowding, with wait times of two to five days, consistent with previous months.
• Seasonal demand softening during the summer is contributing to a gradual decline in spot rates, with fewer blank sailings being recorded compared to earlier this year.

• The EU and US have reached a trade deal imposing a 15% tariff on most European exports to the US, including cars. This prevents the threatened 30% duties linked to the 1 August deadline but still represents a significant increase compared to the 4.8% average tariff under earlier EU proposals. Negotiations continue over steel (facing a 50% tariff), aviation, and potential future restrictions on pharmaceutical exports.

USA

• Los Angeles/Long Beach: 1 vessel waiting, 7-day rail dwell.
• Oakland: 4 vessels waiting, 4-day rail dwell.
• Seattle/Tacoma: No vessels waiting, 6-day rail dwell.

• New York/New Jersey: 1 vessel waiting, 3-day rail dwell.
• Norfolk: 4 vessels waiting, 3-day rail dwell.
• Savannah: 6 vessels waiting (up by 2), 2-day rail dwell.

Benelux

Antwerp, Belgium

• PSA 913: Yard utilisation remains very high at 90–95%, with reefer utilisation between 70–75%.
• PSA 869: Yard utilisation has increased to critical levels of 90–95%, including reefer containers.
• AGW: Yard utilisation remains stable at 65–70%, with reefer utilisation at 60–65%. Cargo opening times continue at 5 days prior to vessel ETA.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

• ECT: Yard utilisation increased to 80–85% but is expected to ease next week to 70–75%.
• RWG: Yard utilisation remains high at 80–85%.
• DELTA II: Yard operating at normal levels of 65–70%.
• APMT MVII: Yard performing well, with utilisation at 70–75%.

United Kingdom

• The UK’s national fleet saw a net reduction in Q2 2025, with truck numbers falling by over 500 units between March and July, although trailer numbers rose slightly. The decline was most pronounced among smaller 3PLs operating fewer than 100 trucks, where both truck and trailer counts dropped steadily. Overall, the total UK fleet stood at just over 543,000 vehicles at the end of July, down slightly from the start of the quarter.

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.

• 1 Aug (Fri): North Cyprus, Switzerland
• 2 Aug (Sat): Andorra*, Macedonia
• 3 Aug (Sun): Andorra*
• 4 Aug (Mon): Andorra*, Guernsey and Alderney*, Iceland*, Ireland (Eire), UK (United Kingdom)*
• 5 Aug (Tue): Croatia, Spain*
• 14 Aug (Thu): Saint Helena*
• 15 Aug (Fri): 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*
• 16 Aug (Sat): Holy See (Vatican City)
• 20 Aug (Wed): Estonia, Hungary
• 24 Aug (Sun): Ukraine
• 25 Aug (Mon): Gibraltar, Guernsey and Alderney, Isle of Man, Jersey, Saint Helena, UK (United Kingdom)*, Ukraine
• 27 Aug (Wed): Moldova
• 29 Aug (Fri): Slovakia
• 30 Aug (Sat): North Cyprus, Türkiye
• 31 Aug (Sun): Moldova

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