With new US tariffs starting August 1 and final rates from Singapore, India, Taiwan, and China still pending, shippers are unsure how to plan their shipments.
Peak typhoon season in August may cause delays and flight rescheduling in South China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
Ocean Freight Outlook
Many shippers had already frontloaded goods, limiting July volumes. To stabilize the market, carriers plan to cut service capacity from Asia to the US by 6.2 percent in August.
Transpacific capacity growing; US West Coast space up 16% in June, another 8% increase expected in July.
In the US, unclear tariff policies are causing unpredictable shipping and sourcing patterns. Although a temporary tariff pause has helped in the short term, higher tariffs are expected in August.
Regional Outlook
Malaysia: Port Klang remains congested, with vessel waiting times reaching up to 70 hours. Some carriers may choose to skip the port entirely.
Thailand: Port congestion and container shortages at Laem Chabang have improved, easing some of the earlier operational challenges.
Australia: Growing interest from companies expanding into the Australian market is also driving up cargo demand.
India: With the ongoing monsoon season in several parts of India, shrink wrapping is recommended to protect cargo from potential water damage.
LAX: Perishable goods such as grapes and peaches are occupying much of the available capacity to Asia. Several carriers have rerouted flights to Seattle to support cherry exports.
There’s a lot more happening in the global freight market. Find out more in our monthly update.
