China Logistics Daily

Published every morning at 08:00Shanghai time · By Noel Murphy, 18 years in China

The China logistics briefing for people who actually ship.

Freight rates, tariffs, port disruption, Amazon policy changes, customs rules. Read every morning and filtered down to the handful of stories that change what an ecommerce seller should do this week, written from inside a fulfilment operation in Shenzhen rather than a desk in a media office.

Illustration of a Chinese container port, a container ship, a cargo aircraft and a freight train linked by shipping routes.

Today4 stories

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China Shipping: Asia-Europe Rates Rise and US Port Risks

The bottom line

Asia-Europe spot rates rose 6% to 7% this week, ending a three-month decline. US political pressure on Cosco could lead to slower port processing for their vessels.

  1. 01

    Asia-Europe spot rates climb ahead of October FAK hikes

    Shanghai to Rotterdam spot rates rose 6% to $3,522 per 40ft this week, ending a three-month downward trend.

  2. 02

    US lawmakers push for increased Cosco ship inspections

    Three US House committee chairs want the Coast Guard to revoke special inspection privileges for Cosco vessels over espionage claims.

  3. 03

    Asian port congestion eases but Shanghai hotspots remain

    General port bottlenecks in Asia are easing due to holiday-related cargo reductions, though some Shanghai terminals still face berthing delays.

  4. 04

    Carriers shift green transition costs to price-sensitive shippers

    Shipping lines claim they are bearing the cost of alternative fuels and lower-emission vessels as shippers resist paying green premiums.

Read today’s full briefing Why it matters, the hot takes, what to do, and 10 content hooks

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Questions people are asking today

Are shipping rates from China to Europe going up again?
Yes. Spot rates rose this week, ending a three-month decline. The Shanghai-Rotterdam route increased 6% to $3,522 per 40ft, and Shanghai-Genoa rose 7% to $3,945 per 40ft due to October FAK hikes.
Will Cosco shipments face delays at US ports?
There is a high risk. US lawmakers are pushing the Coast Guard to remove Cosco from the Qualship 21 program, which would increase the frequency and depth of inspections for their vessels.
Is port congestion in China currently a problem?
It is improving overall, but specific hotspots remain. While general bottlenecks are easing, some terminals in Shanghai still experience berthing delays that can affect your departure schedules.

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