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Historical Ocean Freight Rates Chart

Looking for historical container shipping rates charts?
Use our container shipping rates chart to track trends, analyze past market changes,
and make informed shipping decisions.

Ocean Freight Container Shipping Rates

This data is based on Freightos Terminal. To protect the underlying data, results here may vary slightly from the actual data points.

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Recent Global Freight Events: Congestion, Labor, Strikes & More

Supply chain decisions for ocean freight need more than pricing and transit time information. Freightos Terminal’s key event feed keeps you informed on congestion, weather conditions, holidays, labor disputes and more, improving both long-term planning and real-time situation awareness across your organization.

  • Market Changes
    Medium
    September 4, 2025

    Freight industry experts are suggesting that container derivatives and forward freight agreements (FFAs) could help shippers hedge against extreme market volatility, though the high capital requirements currently present a major hurdle for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

  • Capacity Trends
    Medium
    September 3, 2025

    With profits expected to fall by more than half this year and margins slipping to 2023 levels, ocean carriers are facing the prospect of a loss-making 2026 due to overcapacity, softening demand from front-loading, and continued trade uncertainty.

  • Market Changes
    High
    September 2, 2025

    Check out this week's Freightos Update with latest in IEEPA tariff and US de minimis updates.

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What Affects Ocean Freight Rates?

Ocean freight pricing operates within a complex, interconnected global ecosystem where multiple dynamic factors simultaneously influence rate fluctuations. Understanding these market drivers provides shippers with crucial insights for strategic planning and cost management. The following six key factors represent the primary forces shaping today’s volatile freight market.

Global Supply Chain Disruptions

Supply chain resilience remains paramount as disruptions continue to influence rate volatility. Recent geopolitical tensions in key shipping lanes have led to route diversions, adding 7-14 days to transit times and increasing costs by up to 15%. These disruptions create ripple effects throughout global logistics networks, impacting everything from port congestion to equipment availability.

Fuel Costs

Bunker fuel prices directly influence container shipping rates, with fuel surcharges constituting 15-25% of total freight costs. The implementation of IMO 2023 environmental regulations has accelerated the adoption of cleaner but costlier fuels, creating upward pressure on rates while carriers invest in fleet modernization and alternative propulsion technologies.

Carrier Capacity & Schedules

Shipping alliances control approximately 85% of global container capacity, allowing strategic deployment decisions that significantly impact market rates. Blank sailings, vessel repositioning, and alliance restructuring all contribute to capacity fluctuations that can trigger rapid rate changes, particularly on high-demand routes during peak seasons.

Economic Trends

Consumer demand patterns, manufacturing indices, and retail inventory levels serve as leading indicators of freight rate movements. Recent economic data shows strong correlation between manufacturing output, retail sales growth, and subsequent rate increases, particularly in the 45-60 day lagging window after significant economic shifts.

Geopolitical Events

Trade tensions, canal blockages, and regional conflicts create immediate and prolonged impacts on shipping costs. Risk premiums associated with politically unstable regions can add surcharges of $200-1,000 per container depending on market conditions and alternative routing availability.

Seasonality

Traditional shipping patterns create predictable rate cycles, with peak seasons typically occurring during Q3 and Q4 for major trade lanes. The Asia-North America route experiences 25-40% rate increases during the August-October pre-holiday shipping surge, while Europe-bound cargo peaks from September-November. These seasonal patterns directly influence carrier capacity management strategies, with vessels deployed strategically to capitalize on high-demand periods.

2B+
Data Points
50B
Freight Spend
350K+
Lanes Covered

Leverage Historical Freight Data for Cost Savings

Historical ocean freight rates data offer several cost-saving strategies.

Optimize Timing

Strategic scheduling based on historical rate patterns can reduce freight costs by 15-25%. Our historical data enables you to identify optimal booking windows based on multi-year patterns, helping you avoid peak pricing periods while maintaining inventory requirements.

Spot vs. Contract Rates

Making informed decisions between spot and contract commitments based on market trajectory can significantly impact your bottom line. Historical analysis shows that during volatile markets, a blended strategy balancing 60% contract and 40% spot allocation often delivers optimal cost management while maintaining capacity assurance.

Route Flexibility

Alternative routing options can offer significant savings during market disruptions. When traditional routes face congestion or surcharges, data-driven alternatives often present 10-20% cost savings opportunities despite potential transit time adjustments.

Volume & Booking Strategies

Consolidating shipments and optimizing container utilization based on historical pricing trends maximizes cost efficiency. Our data shows that shippers who adjust their booking practices based on historical lane-specific analytics save an average of 12% annually compared to static shipping strategies.

Benchmarking

Compare your freight spend against market rates to identify negotiation opportunities and potential savings. Terminal’s benchmarking capabilities help you quantify exactly where your rates stand against market averages, providing powerful leverage during carrier negotiations.

Rate Alerts

Stay ahead of market changes with customized rate notifications tailored to your shipping lanes and thresholds. Terminal’s alert system proactively notifies you of significant market movements, empowering your team with actionable intelligence when rate opportunities or risks emerge.

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FAQs: Understanding Historical Freight Rates

What is an ocean freight rates chart, and why does it matter?
A freight rates chart tracks past container shipping prices across major routes, helping shippers analyze trends and make cost-effective decisions.
How often is this data updated?
Historical rate data is updated quarterly. For the latest rates, access Freightos Terminal.
Can I filter historical data by route or container type?
Yes. Our charts allow filtering by major shipping lanes, container types, and time periods.
Where does Freightos Terminal source its freight rate data from?
Our data comes from the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) and other industry benchmarks, ensuring accurate, real-world pricing insights.
How can I use this data to reduce my shipping costs?
By analyzing past trends, you can:
Time shipments for lower rates
Negotiate smarter shipping contracts
Avoid peak-season price spikes
Benchmark rates against market averages

Want Real-Time Ocean Freight Rates?

Historical data is valuable—but real-time insights give you a competitive edge. Get instant access to live market rates, track fluctuations, and optimize your freight strategy with Freightos Terminal.

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