Suez Canal transits have finally passed 50% of pre-disruption levels and post-Golden Week demand is cooling — yet ocean freight rates are holding firm. Here is how carriers are defending rate levels and what shippers should do before November 1 rate initiatives take effect.

Published: February 6, 2026 As the global container shipping market enters 2026, peak season planning looks materially different from what it did even a few years ago. Network structures have shifted, policy and compliance risks remain elevated, and variability in transit times has become a permanent feature rather than a temporary disruption. For shippers, this means that preparing for peak season is no longer about locking in rates and hoping for stability. It is about revi