Ocean Shipping
The holiday runs from 1st to 7th October, bringing celebrations throughout mainland China alongside factory shutdowns and reduced business activity. For some manufacturers, disruption has started earlier, with the Mid-Autumn Festival on 25–27 September leaving only a short working window between the two holidays.
Against this backdrop, shipping conditions remain mixed. Asia–Europe demand has eased following an early peak season, giving shippers some breathing space for now. Transpacific services remain under pressure, with strong demand, cancelled sailings and restricted capacity sustaining elevated rates.
Recent storms continue to affect Asian port operations. Some Shanghai terminals have experienced delays of six to eight days, while high yard occupancy remains a challenge in Ningbo. European concerns include congestion at Rotterdam and the prospect of indefinite industrial action at German ports.
The latest UK reports offer a more settled picture, with no immediate operational issues reported at Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway, where congestion has eased.
Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continues to keep fuel prices high, putting pressure on fuel surcharges. President Trump’s rejection of Iran’s latest proposal, which included reopening the strait, has prolonged uncertainty, although further talks are expected this week.
There are more encouraging developments at Suez. During September, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced plans to return four additional services to the canal route. Figures reported by the Suez Canal Authority show 67 Maersk transits and 60 CMA CGM transits during the month. Other carriers are exploring returns or trial passages, offering the prospect of shorter journeys and improved capacity between Asia and Europe.
Croft Cargo will continue to monitor these developments and keep customers informed of any changes affecting their shipments. Please contact our team if you have questions about upcoming bookings.
We wish all our customers, partners and colleagues celebrating a happy Golden Week!
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