Customer Advisory: June 2025 Freight Market Update

The market remains tumultuous in June. As anticipated, the 90-day pause in tariffs on China has led to a significant surge in demand for shipping services from Asia to the US. Carriers are working to bring capacity back from their initially planned blank sailings; however, this has been operationally challenging as many of these vessels were positioned in locations where they could not be immediately returned to service. Still, capacity has increased since May and supply and demand are slowly balancing out.

Yusen Logistics teams continue to closely monitor conditions and work diligently with our partners in ocean, air, and ground transportation to meet customer requirements. It is important that you provide your shipping forecasts to your local Yusen representative so that we may plan accordingly. Please plan to book at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance. To minimize the impact of vessel availability, we offer alternative services like Air Freight, LCL Express, and combination services (air, rail, or ocean).  

Below is a summary of the present market conditions on key trade routes. For questions, please contact your Yusen representative or email us at solutions@us.yusen-logistics.com and a member of our team will contact you promptly.
 

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Pause on tariffs prompts US retailers to upgrade summer import forecast. Read More>>
• Four crew missing after container ship explosion off the coast of India. Read More>>
• 397,000 TEU capacity added to Asia-NAWC. Read More >>
• Global schedule continues to increase in 2025. Read More>>
• VLSFO 20 ports average index at $532.50 USD per mt at time of writing. Read More>>

TRANSPACIFIC EAST BOUND (TPEB)

• Trans- Pacific Shipping volumes are expected to rise throughout the month of June, driven by the 90-day lowering of U.S tariffs on Goods Imported from China.

• The first half of July's latest cargo can leave China and still arrive in the US before the August 13^th deadline, prompting space tightness on both coasts, but more severe on TPEB USEC services

• Chassis availability and rail congestion are not an issue presently, but are expected to worsen once the full vessels leaving Asia arrive in the US

• Carriers are reinstating previously blanked sailings, however, slower than carriers would like, as many “blanked” vessels are positioned in locations that would take weeks to return to Asia

• Many extra loaders are entering the market to sweep up additional demand
   

TRANSPACIFIC WEST BOUND (TPWB)

• In response to an April announcement of increased tariff costs, Carriers began to implement an aggressive series of blank sailings in anticipation of a drop in volume. With a 90-day pause having since been enacted, however, shippers are now racing to get freight out ahead of the revised implementation date, both into and out of the U.S. 

• This sudden increase in demand, coupled with diminished capacity, could lead to space constraints in the near term.

• Carriers have responded by repositioning vessels and resuming previously suspended services in an attempt to scale up capacity. However, it will take time for these contingency plans to manifest.

• Inland CYs may see some tightening of container availability as a slowdown on imports means fewer boxes moving to the interior.
   

TRANSATLANTIC EAST BOUND (TAEB)

• Congestion persists at North Europe ports, particularly Antwerp, and in the Mediterranean. Vessel schedules are fluid as a result.

• To bypass the constraints imposed by the ongoing congestion, carriers have adjusted their services, with some suspending Rotterdam port calls while others have rerouted cargo to other, alternative ports of discharge.

• While capacity is expected to remain stable, the delays currently being experienced are expected to continue into the near future.
   

LATIN AMERICA SOUTH BOUND (LATAM)

• Congestion is now an issue at Central American ports, which, in turn, has caused delays at ports in South America as well as services coming from North America connecting to these destinations.

• Carriers have injected some additional capacity to accommodate seasonal produce cargo. This should help ease the strain on existing services.

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