Bunker costs only upside in transpacific contract negotiations

Shipping lines, aware that transpacific cargo volumes are inadequate to support higher rates, are trying to maintain this year’s contract rates at levels similar to, or lower than 2025 figures, in exchange for a higher floating bunker surcharge.

Transpacific rates rallied for the second straight week, with the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index on 10 April registering an 8% week-on-week gain in the Shanghai-US West Coast rate, to US$2,552 per FEU. The Shanghai-US East Coast rate ticked up by 5%, to US$3,518 per FEU.