Ocean freight rates are moving up ahead of Lunar New Year

Ocean spot rates moved higher in early January as carriers implemented increases and shippers positioned inventory ahead of Lunar New Year. Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) increased 16% to $2,557 per 40ft container (08 Jan 2026), signaling renewed upward pressure across major trade lanes.

Freightos’ weekly market update also shows transpacific pricing rising week-over-week, including Asia–U.S. West Coast at $2,757/FEU (+5%) and Asia–U.S. East Coast at $4,033/FEU (+7%) (Jan 13, 2026).

Practical takeaway: If you have February arrivals planned, book earlier and keep routing options open to reduce cost and schedule risk.

For importers, this is a strong period to confirm readiness dates, packaging specs, and destination delivery requirements early. When rates rise quickly, the most avoidable delays typically come from incomplete shipment details (dimensions/weights, commodity clarity, and documentation readiness).

Sources: Drewry WCI (08 Jan 2026). Freightos Weekly Update (Jan 13, 2026).