As November begins, Southeast Asia space on Thailand lanes has eased with rates edging lower, Indonesian rates are being cut frequently while Singapore & Malaysia remain tight. In the US, the low season has officially begun — the early-November GRI has failed, rates are weakening, and ex-Ningbo/Shanghai space is ample. In Europe, the Ocean Alliance's Week-1 hike has been trimmed slightly, Premier Alliance rates have fallen back, and MSK/HPL roll-over rates are rising. Australia & NZ rates hold on the East Coast while West Coast and transshipment lanes stay tight. Middle East & Red Sea capacity is ample with rates likely to drift lower by mid-November, though sustained congestion at Khor Fakkan stretches transit times. Our advice: lock USWC premium services for time-sensitive cargo and negotiate on non-urgent dry cargo; select European sailings by arrival timing, route East Med small/heavy boxes via COSCO/MSC; book West Australia / South Pacific / North Australia two weeks ahead; and choose established carriers on Red Sea services with marine cargo cover. Full regional breakdown below.
🌏 Southeast Asia: Thailand eases, Singapore & Malaysia stay tight
Thailand:
Space has eased in early November with rates edging slightly lower. In Ningbo, NBOS adds a second direct Thailand sailing co-shared with RCL, giving two services weekly that can take BKK/LCB cargo; from Shanghai, NBOS adds a Laem Chabang call with clear rate advantages — worth tracking.
Vietnam:
Rates eased slightly in late October and space is relatively ample in early November. RCL's Ho Chi Minh City service inaugurates on Nov 6 (vessel NBOS QIN 2621S), a 5-day direct call into Terminal Phase 2. EMC vertical-channel space offers good value (note: Ningbo EMC vertical currently accepts intermodal bookings only); for Hai Phong, watch the COSCO Nov 9 sailing with ample space.
Cambodia:
Mainly Sihanoukville — rates have been broadly stable with good space and reliable schedules; well suited for business development via EMC / COSCO / HMM.
Indonesia:
More vessels early month with ample capacity; cargo volumes are easing and supply slightly exceeds demand, so carriers are aggressively soliciting cargo. Rates are being cut frequently from November, and most carriers now accept special-container cargo.
Philippines:
On Manila from Shanghai, SITC rates are unchanged while HMM suffers severe late departures, though space is open end-to-beginning of month. From Ningbo, the outlook is less favorable — sailings are badly delayed on top of destination congestion, and rates are set to rise sharply thereafter.
Singapore & Malaysia:
Space remains tight — block space at least three weeks ahead for volume cargo; confirm availability before quoting OOG cargo and bid cautiously; for Singapore, watch EMC.
💡 Our advice: book selectively now that Thailand has eased; prioritize RCL's Nov 6 Ho Chi Minh City debut and COSCO's Nov 9 Hai Phong sailing; pre-block Singapore/Malaysia space three weeks out with caution on OOG; take advantage of Indonesia's rate-cut window.
🇺🇸 US : low season begins, rates weaken
The November low season has officially begun with volumes softening. The early-month GRI has failed; blank sailings merely prop rates without reversing the downtrend.
Wildcard: upcoming USWC terminal labor contract renewal negotiations could trigger a small rebound, but the broader trend remains weak.
Departure side: ex-Ningbo/Shanghai space is ample with easy booking and lower roll-over risk.
Destination side: USWC port congestion has eased, but inland rail box congestion is slowing transit; USEC and Canadian ports are operating smoothly with no abnormal delays.
📌Outlook: rates continue to weaken as volumes shrink and carriers cut rates to grab cargo; space stays loose with plenty of Ningbo sailings and channel options. Short-term jitters may spark a bounce, but the soft underlying trend holds.
💡 Our advice:lock USWC premium/fast services for time-sensitive cargo; non-urgent dry cargo need not book now — wait and negotiate at lower rates; route USEC urgent shipments via USWC intermodal, and lock next week's direct sailing for dry cargo; Canadian space is loose with falling rates — book opportunistically.
🇪🇺 Europe & Mediterranean: hike trimmed, East Med promotions and more roll-overs
Europe:
In the Ocean Alliance's first week of November, overall lane rates have been trimmed slightly from last week's announced hike. The Premier Alliance runs slower, and recent sailings are due to arrive right around the overseas Christmas holidays — weakening European cargo demand and leaving little support for rate increases; some carriers are running single-sailing promotions to lift loading. PA rates have already fallen back, broadly holding late-October promotional levels. Ocean Alliance guaranteed space is ample, but MSK/HPL roll-over rates are rising — select sailings by arrival timing to relieve holiday port pressure.
Mediterranean:
- East Med:
PA continues single-vessel promotions with severe early-month delays. ONE's Week-46 rate has edged lower, with other carriers expected to follow; YML/HMM prioritize light/bulk cargo; HPL has promotional e-commerce spot space available. MSK roll-overs have not eased — route small/heavy boxes via COSCO/MSC. For Alexandria, CUL calls the Old Port and WHL the New Port, both accepting cargo into early November. - West Med:
Some carriers are aggressive in booking with slightly lower rates, but rates remain well above October levels. Early-month space is open; the fast MD4 service has slightly tighter space with rising off-line roll-overs — we recommend a sea-rail CCA (combined transport) to improve loading chances.
💡 Our advice: choose European sailings by arrival timing to manage Christmas port pressure; route East Med small/heavy boxes via COSCO/MSC; use sea-rail CCA on MD4 given roll-over risk; watch ONE's Week-46 cut as other carriers follow.
🇦🇺 Australia & New Zealand: East holds, West and transshipment lanes stay tight
East Australia sees a small late-month volume uptick with rates broadly rolled over. The Port of Singapore is severely congested. West Australia space remains tight with rates expected to rise; the South Pacific and North Australia require long transshipment with tight space.
💡 Our advice: book selectively on the East Coast; plan two weeks ahead for West Australia, the South Pacific and North Australia.
🔶Middle East & Red Sea: ample capacity, rates likely to ease
🔶Middle East & Red Sea: ample capacity, rates likely to ease
Middle East: Book with ESL / MSC / CMA / HMM / COSCO / HPL — capacity is ample and all carriers are soliciting cargo. The main Middle East discharge port, Khor Fakkan, remains severely overloaded with heavy vessel congestion and long inland truck queues, significantly stretching overall transit. For time-sensitive cargo, prioritize carriers' flag background and regional operating experience. For cargo clearing at KLF, please have consignees act promptly — otherwise containers may be moved to other ICDs, incurring extra charges.
Red Sea: Direct recommendations: CMA / EMC / COSCO / ONE / CUL / TSL / Zhonggu / KAWA; transshipment: CUL / ESL. Capacity is ample through mid-November and carriers are already casting a wide net for cargo, with rates likely to drift lower. Given the geopolitical situation in the Peninsula, we continue to recommend established, financially strong carriers; build in sufficient delivery-time and freight-cost buffer on all shipments and arrange appropriate marine cargo insurance.
💡 Our advice: ample capacity — book selectively and negotiate on confirmed bookings; remind consignees to clear KLF cargo promptly; choose major carriers on Red Sea services with adequate buffer and insurance cover.
📊 本周全航线行情速览
✅ Southeast Asia: Thailand eases; Singapore/Malaysia stay tight — block space three weeks ahead, pick carriers by port
✅ US : low season begins, GRI fails, rates weaken — negotiate on non-urgent cargo
✅ Europe & Mediterranean: hike trimmed, East Med promotions; MSK/HPL roll-overs rise — select by arrival timing
✅ Australia & NZ: East holds; West/South Pacific/North — book two weeks ahead
✅ Middle East & Red Sea: ample capacity, rates likely ease; Khor Fakkan congestion requires buffer
💡 This Week's Operational Guide
- Southeast Asia:
Thailand eased — book selectively; prioritize RCL's Nov 6 HCMC debut and COSCO's Nov 9 Hai Phong sailing; pre-block S/Malaysia three weeks out with caution on OOG - US Lanes:
lock USWC premium services for time-sensitive cargo; non-urgent dry cargo waits and negotiates lower; route USEC urgent shipments via USWC intermodal - Europe & Med:
select sailings by arrival timing to manage holiday pressure; route East Med small/heavy boxes via COSCO/MSC; use sea-rail CCA on MD4 - Australia & NZ:
book selectively on the East Coast; plan two weeks ahead for West/South Pacific/North - Middle East & Red Sea:
choose established carriers; remind consignees to clear KLF cargo promptly; arrange marine cargo insurance
⚠️ This Week's Risk Alerts
- Space risk:
Singapore/Malaysia stay tight with OOG requiring early confirmation; Ningbo-Philippines delays are severe with sharp rate increases ahead - Delay risk:
USWC inland rail box congestion slows transit; East Med early-month delays with rising MSK/HPL roll-overs; Khor Fakkan congestion stretches transit significantly - Cost risk:
Ningbo-Philippines rates set to rise sharply; West Med remains well above October; Red Sea geopolitics may push freight costs up - Schedule risk:
PA Alliance runs slow with some arrivals falling in Christmas holidays; US lanes use blank sailings to prop rates; HMM suffers severe late departures on the Philippines - Port risk:
Port of Singapore severely congested; Khor Fakkan overloaded with long inland truck queues; KLF cargo may be moved to other ICDs, incurring extra fees