Industry News

SUMMARY

Air Freight: The Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) fell 3.1% week-on-week in the week ending July 20, 2026, a third consecutive weekly decline led by softer outbound pricing from Asia and Europe. Even so, the index remains well above year-ago levels, and IATA's most recent monthly data showed global cargo demand growth continuing to outpace capacity growth.

Ocean Freight: Drewry's World Container Index fell 4% to $4,374 per 40ft container for the week of July 23, 2026, as Asia-Europe and Transpacific rates eased from their recent peak. Carriers have scheduled 39 blank sailings across major East-West trades over the next five weeks, and several major lines have introduced new Peak Season Surcharges.

Trucking: DAT's June 2026 data showed dry van spot rates at $3.00 per mile and flatbed rates at a record $3.69 per mile, with van spot rates topping contract rates for the first time since February 2022. The national van load-to-truck ratio eased to 10.7 for the week of July 12-18 as more capacity entered the market, even as diesel prices climbed alongside the broader crude oil rally.

SUMMARY

Air Freight: The Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) fell 2.7% week-on-week to 2,551.00 on July 6, though it remains up 27.7% year-on-year. Corridor indices out of Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London Heathrow, and Shanghai all eased on the week while staying well above year-ago levels.

Ocean Freight: Drewry's World Container Index rose 2% to $4,639 per 40ft container on July 9, its highest level since September 2024. Transpacific and Asia-Europe lanes both climbed further amid blank sailings, tight equipment availability, and pre-tariff-deadline frontloading.

Trucking: DAT's June spot dry van rate reached $3.00 per mile, and spot rates topped contract rates for the first time since February 2022. Flatbed spot rates hit an all-time high of $3.69 per mile as carrier capacity continues to tighten.

SUMMARY

Air Freight: Global air cargo spot rates rose 41% year-over-year in May 2026, reaching $3.40/kg, driven by strong North American and Asia-Pacific demand. Dynamic load factors on Asia–North America lanes reached 90%, signaling tight belly capacity.

Ocean Freight: The Drewry World Container Index surged 5% to $4,166/40ft on June 25 — its highest level since September 2024 — as transpacific frontloading intensifies ahead of anticipated July GRI increases to $7,000–$8,000+.

Trucking: Spot rates hit an all-time recorded high of $3.83/mile in early June driven by seasonal produce and beverage demand, with van load-to-truck ratios up 92% year-over-year. Flatbed remains the tightest segment at $3.60/mile.

SUMMARY

Air Freight: The Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) edged down -0.9% week-over-week through June 12, yet remains elevated with year-on-year gains exceeding +32% on most corridors, driven by ongoing supply chain adjustments following the Strait of Hormuz disruption and sustained demand growth.

Ocean Freight: The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) rose 3% to $3,549/40ft container for the week of June 11, with transpacific rates surging — Shanghai to New York up 7% to $5,870/40ft — as shippers accelerate bookings ahead of anticipated July tariff actions and FIFA World Cup cargo demand.

Trucking: Spot rates softened modestly week-over-week with dry van at $2.74/mile (-$0.01) and reefer at $3.05/mile (-$0.01), while flatbed strengthened to $3.30/mile (+$0.01); load-to-truck ratios remain near historic highs at 12.92 (van) and 87.22 (flatbed).

SUMMARY

Air Freight: The BAI00 global air freight benchmark gained +2.8% week-over-week as of June 1 and remains +32.7% year-on-year, driven by the Strait of Hormuz closure diverting cargo to air and early peak-season pull-forward from Asia.

Ocean Freight: The Drewry World Container Index rose 3% to $2,800/40ft as of May 28, with Transpacific (Shanghai-NY +6%) and Asia-Europe (Shanghai-Genoa +4%) leading gains; peak season demand is arriving earlier than usual, driven by a July 1 bunker adjustment deadline.

Trucking: North American spot trucking rates are firming: dry van at $2.68/mile, reefer at $3.12/mile, and flatbed at $3.60/mile; the van load-to-truck ratio surged to 12.92 from 7.2 in April, signaling a tightening capacity environment.

SUMMARY

Air Freight: Global air freight rates extended gains for a third consecutive week, with the BAI Index up roughly 6% YoY. Asia‑outbound corridors led the climb — Hong Kong (BAI30) rose +5.4% WoW and Shanghai (BAI80) +0.8% WoW — while Frankfurt softened.

Ocean Freight: Drewry's World Container Index slipped 1% to $2,216/40ft, its third straight weekly decline, but Transpacific eastbound rates ticked up 2% to the West Coast and 10% to the East Coast as Strait of Hormuz disruption pushes premiums higher.

Trucking: DAT spot rates climbed across all three modes for the week ending May 2 — dry van $2.37/mi, reefer $2.72/mi, flatbed $3.05/mi — with the dry van load‑to‑truck ratio up 21% WoW to 8.68 ahead of CVSA International Roadcheck (May 12‑14).