With our large portfolio of international container shipping services for both LCL and FCL cargoes, our attention was drawn to an excellent article on the Seatrade Maritime News website, which examines how global container shipping reliability is continuing to deteriorate as freight rates climb.
The article reports that analysts are warning that shippers are increasingly paying higher prices for poorer service levels. According to freight intelligence platform Xeneta, the pattern has become a recurring feature of the market since the Covid-19 pandemic, when soaring freight rates coincided with a sharp fall in schedule reliability. During the height of the pandemic in 2021, spot rates rose above USD7,000 per feu while vessel schedule reliability dropped to around 20%.
Current supply chain pressures are again impacting operations across key European gateways. Congestion at the Port of Hamburg following pilot strikes, together with low water levels affecting the Port of Rotterdam and Port of Antwerp, are contributing to delays and reduced schedule reliability. At the same time, both Drewry and Linerlytica reported spot freight rate increases of up to 15% on North Europe trades and 10% on Mediterranean services as carriers prepare for anticipated peak season demand.
Despite the recent upward momentum in freight rates, market analysts believe the surge may not continue for long. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are reportedly continuing to underperform in parts of the market, while some analysts remain unconvinced that a strong peak season will fully materialise amid ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Middle East crisis.
The original article was published on 25 May 2026 and can be read in full here:
U-Freight continues to monitor developments in global container shipping lanes closely. We remain committed to supporting customers with reliable, flexible transport solutions across air, sea and multimodal services, helping navigate route changes and maintain resilience in international supply chains.
For expert advice or further information on our ocean freight services, please contact your local U-Freight office or visit the ocean freight section of this website.
