China Market Freight March 2025

In March, China’s export container shipping market remained in an adjustment phase, with subdued transport demand and declining freight rates across most routes, leading to a drop in the composite index.

If you want to be updated with the newest freight rates, welcome to contact YQN logistics.

Please review the analysis below for detailed information by region:

China To Europe

Recent ceasefire negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have stalled, while heightened defense spending in some European countries has kept geopolitical risks elevated. Additionally, escalating trade tensions between Europe and the U.S. have clouded the region’s economic outlook.

Amid stagnant shipping demand and imbalanced supply-demand dynamics, freight rates on the Europe route continued to trend downward. On March 21, the spot rate from Shanghai to European base ports edged down 0.2% week-on-week to $1,306/TEU.

China to Latin America

Sluggish demand growth and weak supply-demand fundamentals led to further rate declines. The freight rate to South American base ports dropped 13.6% to $1,680/TEU on March 21.

However, based on YQN Logistics’ historical freight rate database analysis, we project a 4-6% increase in sea freight rates for this shipping line during April 2025.

China To North America

U.S. retail sales rose just 0.2% month-on-month in February, missing market expectations, while January’s figure was revised sharply downward to -1.2%—the largest drop since July 2021. Weak consumer data signals growing pressure on U.S. economic growth. Upcoming “reciprocal tariffs” by the U.S. in early April could further disrupt global trade, adding challenges to the North America route.

Transport demand remained sluggish, with imbalanced supply-demand dynamics driving rates lower. On March 21, rates from Shanghai port to the U.S. West and East Coast base ports fell 4.7% and 3.7% to 1,872/FEU and 2,866/FEU, respectively.

China To Middle East

As Ramadan in the Middle East nears its end, stable transport demand pushed rates higher. The sea freight rates from port of Shanghai to Persian Gulf base ports rose 8.5% to $1,059/TEU on March 21.

China To Japan

The market remained stable, with the freight rate index for China-Japan routes holding steady at 970.34 points on March 21.

Key Data Summary (March 21):

• SCFI Composite Index: 1,292.75 points (-2.0% WoW)

• Europe: $1,306/TEU (-2.7%)

• Mediterranean: $2,195/TEU (-4.4%)

• U.S. West Coast: $1,872/FEU (-4.7%)

• U.S. East Coast: $2,866/FEU (-3.7%)

• Persian Gulf: $1,059/TEU (+8.5%)

• Australia-New Zealand: $755/TEU (+2.7%)

• South America: $1,680/TEU (-13.6%)

The market remains sensitive to geopolitical risks, trade policies, and regional demand fluctuations, underscoring the need for stakeholders to adapt to ongoing volatility.