Freight rates look better for the four main global trades

Spot rates on all four main east-west trade lanes continued to increase as vessel utilisation levels remained steady, according to the latest figures from the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI). Prices on services from Shanghai to Europe hit US$828 per TEU last week, up US$5 on the previous week; on services from Shanghai to the Mediterranean to US$1 019 per TEU, up US$53; on services from Shanghai to the US West Coast, rates up US$11 on the previous week to reach US$794 per TEU; and prices to the US East Coast US$25 to reach US$1 565 per TEU.