China-to-U.S. Ocean Freight Rates Surge as Shipping Delays Mount in October 2026
Chinese port congestion is triggering a chain reaction, delaying container vessels bound for the U.S. and keeping transpacific freight rates elevated.
According to the global container schedule reliability report released by international maritime data analytics firm Xeneta, only 20% of vessels on the Asia-to-North America route arrived at ports on time in September, with average delays reaching 6.9 days, an increase of 0.8 days compared to August.
Meanwhile, the freight rate from Shanghai to Los Angeles briefly approached $8,000 per 40-foot container in early October, up about 260% YoY from the same period last year.
What is causing ongoing congestion at Chinese ports? Where do freight rates currently stand? How should U.S. importers arrange their shipping schedules moving forward?
I. Why Are Chinese Ports Congested and U.S.-Bound Container Ships Delayed?
In September 2026, global container schedule reliability declined for the fourth consecutive month, with only 27% of vessels arriving on time and average delays reaching 6 days. The Asia-to-North America route was particularly affected.
1. Severe Weather Causing Major Backlogs at Chinese Ports
From July to early September, Asia was struck by a succession of severe typhoons. During these typhoons, ports suspended some vessel berthing and loading/unloading operations. Even after weather conditions improved, ports had to clear previously accumulated backlogs of vessels. Because ocean container ships typically operate on multi-port rotation schedules, delays at preceding ports directly disrupt berthing schedules at subsequent ports, forcing carriers to readjust berths and routes and ultimately triggering delays across the entire line.
For instance, if a vessel scheduled to load cargo in a Chinese port before heading to the U.S. experiences delays at its origin port, carriers cannot make up for lost time during the voyage, and its arrival time in the U.S. will inevitably be postponed.
2. Peak Export Shipping Season
The ongoing peak export shipping season has caused a large backlog of previously delayed vessels to arrive at ports simultaneously. (ICIS) As a result, the impact of earlier congestion continues to persist. Taking the Port of Shanghai as an example, while the average daily number of vessels waiting at anchorage decreased in September, the average waiting time extended from 1.9 days to 2.7 days, indicating that individual vessel berthing and customs clearance efficiencies have not yet recovered.
Furthermore, this congestion has also spread to other transit hubs in Asia. In September, the daily average number of ships waiting at Singapore, a core Southeast Asian hub, surged from 12 to 22, with average waiting times also prolonged.
II. Are Container Pickup Times Increasing at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?
U.S. West Coast ports are currently under heavy throughput pressure.
Official data from the Port of Los Angeles shows that the port handled 1,042,600 TEUs in September 2026, the highest monthly volume in its 118-year history. Fully loaded imports totaled approximately 545,700 TEUs, while total container volume for the third quarter also reached a record high.
With large volumes of cargo arriving at the same time, terminal loading and unloading, truck container pickup, and rail transportation are all under pressure.
The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) container dwell time report for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach shows that in September, the average dwell time for containers awaiting truck pickup increased to 3.18 days, while the average dwell time for rail-transported containers increased to 7.19 days.
III. Transpacific Freight Rates: October 2026 Prices
Amid congestion at Chinese ports, transpacific freight rates remain at elevated levels.
In early October,the average spot freight rate from the Far East to the U.S. West Coast was approximately $7,700 per 40-foot container, at one point more than 334% higher than in September 2025.
Even long-term contract freight rates have started to rise. During the same period, the average long-term contract freight rate from the Far East to the U.S. West Coast was approximately $3,600 per FEU, up about 25% from the previous month.
Latest Freight Rates from Shanghai to Major U.S. Ports
According to Drewry's World Container Index, current ocean freight rates from Shanghai to the U.S. West and East Coasts are as follows:
Shipping Route | Freight Rate in Mid-October 2026 |
Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast | Approximately $7,900 per 40-foot container |
Shanghai to the U.S. East Coast | Approximately $10,000 per 40-foot container |
Global Container Freight Composite Index | Approximately $4,500 per 40-foot container |
Recent data shows that freight rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased slightly, while rates from Shanghai to New York decreased marginally.
Drewry and Xeneta utilize different freight statistical samples and timelines, and the prices above are primarily used for observing market trends. Shippers still need to confirm actual freight rates based on specific origin ports, destination ports, booking dates, and service conditions.
IV. Carrier Blank Sailings in October and Potential Future Freight Rate Trends
In addition to port congestion, carriers are also planning more blank sailings, which may lead to further cargo transport delays.
In September, average delays across major carriers hit a 12-month high. Despite this, 8% of capacity on the Far East-to-North America route was cancelled or postponed in September, and announced blank sailing plans for October affect at least 13% of scheduled capacity.
Will Ocean Freight Rates Fall by the End of 2026?
As the U.S. import peak season gradually concludes, transpacific freight rates may decline. According to National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts, import volumes at major U.S. ports may decrease by the end of the year because most holiday goods have already arrived in the U.S. Subsequent import demand will primarily stem from limited replenishment and inventory preparation for early 2027.
Reduced U.S. import demand, combined with the gradual clearing of accumulated vessel backlogs at certain Chinese ports, leads Xeneta analyst Peter Sand to expect that spot ocean freight rates from Asia to the U.S. may gradually decline over the next three months. However, carriers may also continue to cancel sailings and reduce available capacity in the market, thereby limiting the decline in freight rates.
Consequently, companies needing to ship goods to the U.S. in the near term should consult freight forwarders to verify whether booked voyages are subject to cancellation and when cargo is expected to arrive. For time-sensitive goods, companies should prioritize securing capacity and delivery timelines.
With port congestion, blank sailings, and changing freight rates affecting U.S.-bound shipments, businesses may need to coordinate multiple stages from origin to U.S. entry.
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