Freightos: Congestion and Fuel Costs May Lift Container Rate Floor
Global – October 17, 2026 -- Typhoon-driven congestion and elevated fuel costs could set a higher floor for container rates before the pre-Lunar New Year rush begins, according to Freightos Group's latest Global Freight Outlook webinar, hosted by Head of Research Judah Levine.
Far East and North Europe backlogs could take months to clear
Typhoon-driven backlogs in the Far East persist, and congestion at key North European hubs is lingering. The backups could take months to unwind completely. Together with high fuel costs, they could keep upward pressure on rates.
Red Sea returns advance as Houthi–Saudi escalation adds risk
All the container alliances plus MSC will send some vessels through the Red Sea by the end of the month. However, the sharp Houthi–Saudi escalation in recent days, including missile strikes on Riyadh, raises the risk of renewed attacks on container vessels. Such attacks could reverse the progress.