Recently, several world-renowned shipping companies announced that they will raise ocean freight rates across the board starting January 1, 2025.
Shipping giants such as MSC, COSCO SHIPPING, Yang Ming Marine Transport, Maersk, CMA CGM and HMM have all issued notices of price increases.
MSC's freight rate for each 40-foot container on the US West Coast will increase to US$6,150, and the US East Coast will increase to US$7,150.
COSCO SHIPPING has also raised the freight rate for the US West Coast to US$6,000 and the US East Coast to US$7,000.
Yang Ming Marine Transport plans to raise the General Rate Surcharge (GRI), with the increase for each 40-foot container on the US West Coast and US East Coast being approximately US$2,000.
However, freight forwarding industry insiders pointed out that although many shipping companies have stated that they plan to raise prices starting January 1, they are not in a hurry to make public statements.
Starting from February next year, the three major shipping alliances will be reorganized, and market competition will intensify. Shipping companies have begun to actively grab goods and customers to cope with possible market changes.
Shipping companies and freight forwarding industry insiders said that the final price increase and whether it can be successful will depend on the market supply and demand relationship.