Freight rates on deep‑sea routes generally showed an upward trend, driving the composite index higher. At present, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains stable, contributing to a moderation of volatility on the relevant shipping routes. In May 2026, the average value of the China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI), published by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, stood at 1,310.84 points, an increase of 7.3% compared with the previous month. The average value of the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which reflects the spot market, was 2,221.19 points, up 17.9% month‑on‑month. According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, in April, China’s exports (in dollar terms) grew by 14.1% year‑on‑year, maintaining a relatively rapid growth rate. This factor provides a favourable underpinning for the continued stable development of China’s export container shipping market in the future.
1. Port Container Throughput Maintains Steady Growth, and the Vessel Charter Market Continues Its Positive Trajectory
1.1 During January—April 2026, China’s port container throughput continued to show growth, with the operating performance of major ports remaining stable and positive. According to statistics, in April 2026, the national port container throughput reached 30.71 million TEU, an increase of 5.1% year‑on‑year. Among this, coastal ports handled 26.90 million TEU (+4.8% year‑on‑year), while inland river ports handled 3.80 million TEU (+6.7% year‑on‑year).
1.2 The container vessel charter market maintained a positive trend, with charter rates for vessels of various sizes continuing to rise. According to Clarkson’s statistics, in May 2026, charter rates for vessels of 1,000 TEU, 2,750 TEU, 4,250 TEU, 6,500 TEU and 9,000 TEU increased by 2.2%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 0.2% and 0.5% respectively compared with the previous month.
2. Stabilisation and Recovery on the Europe‑Mediterranean Routes
On the Europe‑Mediterranean routes, according to data released by the European Commission, the Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) stood at 93.5 in May 2026, a modest increase from the previous reading, mainly driven by a rebound in services and consumer confidence, while industry, retail trade and construction continued their downward trends. At the same time, the preliminary April Eurozone CPI rose by 3% year‑on‑year, exceeding both the previous level and market expectations. Under the influence of a sharp rise in energy costs, inflationary pressures in the Eurozone have further intensified. At present, the various sectors of the European economy are showing divergent trends and face challenges such as rising cost pressures and weakening demand, which create uncertainty for future economic prospects. At the beginning of the month, the Europe‑Mediterranean shipping market showed signs of stabilisation. As transport demand picked up and the supply‑demand balance improved, spot market booking rates rose steadily. In May 2026, the average CCFI values for the Europe and Mediterranean routes were 1,577.16 points and 2,001.20 points respectively, up 0.3% and 0.4% compared with the previous month. The average spot market freight rates for shipments from Shanghai port to the basic ports of Europe and the Mediterranean were USD 1,948 and USD 3,141 respectively, representing month‑on‑month increases of 26.2% and 24.5%.
