Global beverage trade lane insights

State of the Industry

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Area	Trade Lane	Trade Lane Outlook	Ocean rates Q2 2026	Ocean rates Q3 2026
North America	North America to Asia	April 2nd - Demand from the U.S. to Asia is stable. Some destinations impacted by equipment imbalances or port congestions have prevent the rates to decrease. Strong volumes moving from Canada to Korea, Japan, and other parts of Asia.	Stable	Stable
North America to Asia	North America • North America to Asia •
North America	North America to Oceania	April 2nd - Oceania remains solid with manageable space overall. Gemini service delivering with high reliability. Some other carriers announced new weekly direct service launched is a major planned capacity expansion that should make space more reliable and options more competitive going into 2026. Carriers are now offering service through both ports Charleston and Savannah, creating new opportunities to customers to export.	Stable	Stable
North America to Oceania	North America • North America to Oceania •
North America	North America to Europe	April 4 - EFS and Inlands in both USA and Europe experiencing increase for April and May. Trans-Atlantic space remained tight. AT2 service suspension . GRI announcement from CMA tot his trade lane, MSC applying a second GRI to Houston cargo. Port congestions expect to increase in North Europe area.	Up	Up
North America to Europe	North America • North America to Europe •
Oceania	Oceania to Oceania	April 2nd - Space remains available in both directions between Australia and New Zealand, including from the key POLs of Adelaide, & Nelson. Equipment supply, particularly for flexi grade containers, can still be challenged for some carriers.	Down	Stable
Oceania to Oceania	Oceania • Oceania to Oceania •
Oceania	Oceania to Asia	April 2nd - Generally services to Asia from Australia are free to book. Ex NZ due the perishables reefer peak, space can be tigher so early bookings are necessary. The drop off in Middle East volumes has meant several carriers are looking at spot business.	Stable	Down
Oceania to Asia	Oceania • Oceania to Asia •
Oceania	Oceania to North America	April 2nd - USWC direct services remain under pressure, particularly the loop calling at Vancouver. To the USEC, the new Eagle service is now underway, and also being used for USWC ports via Roadman. Following carriers' announcement, now 2 sailings per week to USEC in addition to their existing PAD service. Equipment remains tight in Adelaide and Nelson for some carriers.	Stable	Stable
Oceania to North America	Oceania • Oceania to North America •
Oceania	Oceania to Europe	April 2nd - Space ex Australia on the direct vessels has started to ease given the fall off in Middle east. Rotterdam is still being omitted, likely to end June to retain schedule reiliability. Ex NZ the direct service is severly dry space constrained due to record reefer produce season. London Gatweway continues to be omitted on this service, with UK cargo fed from le Havre. New Eagle service, whereby cargo for Europe tranships in Crostobal, is up and running and offers the fastes service from NZ to NWC. Other carriers have also made available a service offering to Europe, where cargo is loaded on their USEC service and transhipped in Cartagena for Europe. This is to augment dry space restricted on the usual PAD direct service. Equipment remains tight in Adelaide and Nelson for some carriers	Stable	Stable
Oceania to Europe	Oceania • Oceania to Europe •
Europe	Europe to Oceania	April 2nd - Space is generally ok on direct service to AU and relay services. Some carriers no longer offering NZ via AU. Now only offer relay through Asia.. they are having issues with a roll pool for the PAD service via Panama to AUEC and NZ. No bookings allowed over a 4 week period, Reefer equipment remains a chalenge, particularly 20fts , ex France.	Stable	Stable
Europe to Oceania	Europe • Europe to Oceania •
Africa	South Africa to North America	March 27 - We are still in the Reefer season for the Grapes , special is tight and available on request. 20ft remains an issues with some carriers. For a period, South Africa faced the highest tariff among key wine-exporting nations into the USA.	Stable	Stable
South Africa to North America	Africa • South Africa to North America •
Africa	South Africa to Europe	March 27 - Grapes Season has ended earlier than expected and March up to begin of April sees more opportunities to load cargo before the beginning of the Citrus Season when the reefer will get priority and 20ft will be limited to go on board. Capacity is open for now , but will be restricted when Citrus Season starts. However as HillebrandGORI we have secured capacity on board the vessels our carriers partners .	Stable	Stable
South Africa to Europe	Africa • South Africa to Europe •
Europe	Europe to Middle East	March 27 - Bunker prices have increased above 100 $ per barrel. Emergency Fuel Surcharges are implemented by all carriers and review on regular basis close to the market reality. Situation with Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and most of the carriers have declared End of Voyages. Carriers are implementing plan to divert vessels to safer ports such as Sohar, Khor Fakkan, and Indian Ports as well . We are continously monitoring the situation and trying to find alternatives to support our customer with alternatives plan to deliver the cargo back to the planned POD as much as possible.	Up	Up
Europe to Middle East	Europe • Europe to Middle East •
Europe	Europe to Asia	March 27 - On the backhaul trade, for Europe to Asia, rates remains low rates level. As the impact goes on with EFS on Europe to Asia trade aswell , carriers are inforcing the EFS payment. However the reality of the demand remains sluggish and no sign of recovery is to be seen in short period of time. Coming Q2/Q3 we will see the real impact of the bunker increase .	Down	Down
Europe to Asia	Europe • Europe to Asia •
South America	South America to Asia	March 26 - Services are facing delays from Asia to Chile. Cut & run or schedule changes are happening weekly. Prices are remaining on a low level at this point. YML and EMC unified their service from San Antonio and Valparaiso : WSA/SA4. The rate increase from SAWC is attributable solely to the application of the EFS effective from mid‑March 2026.	Down	Up
South America to Asia	South America • South America to Asia •
South America	South America to North America	March 26 - Spaces to the U.S. remain stable with no major changes, even though demand is lower. Shipping lines do not foresee any immediate adjustments due to the high reefer season (Fruit). Congestion has been observed in Panama since one month. (Cristobal and Balboa ports). The rate increase from SAWC is attributable solely to the application of the EFS effective from mid‑March 2026.	Stable	Up
South America to North America	South America • South America to North America •
South America	South America to Europe	March 26 - The situation from Chile improved. Services are working normally from Chile but we are entering in the winter season on SAWC so the operation at port could be affected as the previous years... The delays on the cargo are mainly due to the congestion at the TS ports. The fruit season begun, leading to higher export volumes. As a result, some carriers have introduced weight-related restrictions for flexi shipments. The rate increase from SAWC is attributable solely to the application of the EFS effective from mid‑March 2026.	Stable	Up
South America to Europe	South America • South America to Europe •
Europe	Europe to Central & South America	March 6 - Rates are increasing, carriers going with PSS to address the stronger market to South America and the operational difficulties, or with increases directly related to the situation in the Middle East and bunker costs raise. Increase can be in the EUR 400 / ctnr, in particular to South America West Coast where demand exceeds capacity offered, it is more balanced to the East Coast	Stable	Up
Europe to Central & South America	Europe • Europe to Central & South America •
Asia	Asia to North America	March 6 - rates are volatile with short lived demand spike, having GRIs implemented and cut again, but a rather flat demand overall. Massive blank sailings since Chinese New Year, extended into March, enable carriers to maintain good utilization factors	Stable	Stable
Asia to North America	Asia • Asia to North America •
Asia	Asia to Europe	March 6 - Chinese New Year has passed, inducing a slight rate correction after strong year-end demand. Yet, freight rates remain elevated, driven by Chinese manufacturers looking for new demand. Potential return to Suez Canal routings now ruled out for the following months, due events in the Middle East.	Stable	Stable
Asia to Europe	Asia • Asia to Europe •
Europe	Europe to North America	February 22 - Winter storms in North Europe and USEC are causing delays, congestion and terminal backlogs. Capacity is tightened with blank sailings and services changes, in particular the termination of ATE2/Unity service, Ocean Alliance removes Baltimore call. Space is tight following capacity adjustments and carriers pushing for GRI's that most likely will start to take shape with the uptick in bookings	Down	Up
North Europe to North America	Europe • Europe to North America •