Summary
The trans-Pacific headhaul market moved further into a pre–Lunar New Year lull, with carriers leaning harder on capacity discipline as spot pricing continued to soften across key Asia–North America and Asia–Europe corridors. The latest week-over-week declines were driven by weaker demand and carrier efforts to better align supply with near-term volumes.
On the network side, carriers continued to adjust port coverage and service rotations, including changes that matter directly to U.S. and Canadian importers using Pacific Northwest routings (Tacoma and Vancouver) or sourcing from Vietnam. At the same time, U.S. port-level updates—particularly in the Gulf—pointed to incremental capacity additions and solid landside fluidity, giving shippers more viable routing options outside the traditional West Coast gateways.
Highlights
- Spot rate direction: easing week-over-week; carriers signaling more February blank sailings to manage supply
- Network: Pacific Northwest service rationalization alongside expanded Vietnam port coverage on select trans-Pacific strings
Capacity & Congestion
Capacity discipline intensified heading into February. Carriers announced a sharp increase in blank sailings versus January, reflecting weaker post-holiday demand and factory shutdowns tied to Lunar New Year. For importers, this translates into fewer weekly sailing options, higher risk of rolled cargo, and greater variability in cutoffs and ETAs around certain weeks.
Service network decisions also suggest carriers are prioritizing high-volume West Coast calls over broader port coverage in some rotations. This can improve network efficiency but may also create localized congestion risk if inbound volumes are funneled into fewer terminals and sailing windows.
From a North American operations standpoint, Gulf gateways remain increasingly attractive. Port Houston reported record annual container volumes and highlighted new berth and yard equipment coming online, along with truck turn times averaging around 40 minutes—a strong signal for importers dependent on fast drayage and transload velocity.
Capacity & Congestion Highlights
- February blank sailings materially higher than January, tightening effective capacity
- Fewer PNW calls on some trans-Pacific services concentrate cargo into fewer ports
- Gulf Coast ports, especially Houston, showing improving throughput and landside fluidity
Pricing & Rates
Container pricing continued to ease week-over-week. Industry benchmarks declined by mid-single-digit percentages, with the trans-Pacific trade driving much of the softness. The drop reflects a combination of weaker near-term demand and carrier efforts to stabilize utilization by pulling capacity.
For importers, this environment typically favors short-term or rolling coverage rather than long-dated commitments. While carriers are signaling possible GRIs and surcharges, their ability to enforce them depends heavily on how much capacity is actually removed from the market and how quickly demand rebounds after Lunar New Year.
Pricing & rates highlights
- Composite benchmarks down roughly 5% week-over-week
- Trans-Pacific rates continue to soften as demand dips seasonally
- Importers retain negotiating leverage, but must manage space risk on heavily blanked weeks
Carrier Strategy & Service Updates
Pacific Northwest adjustments
One major alliance has removed Tacoma from a key trans-Pacific service loop, concentrating U.S. West Coast calls on Los Angeles and Oakland. Importers that previously relied on Tacoma for inland distribution may need to adjust rail, drayage, or even gateway strategies to preserve transit reliability.
Expanded northern Vietnam coverage
A major carrier added Haiphong to its trans-Pacific FP2 service, which also calls Vancouver. This provides a more direct option for shippers sourcing from northern Vietnam into Canada and the Pacific Northwest, potentially reducing reliance on feeder moves through southern hubs.
Niche inter-regional capacity to the U.S. East Coast
Another carrier announced a new Australia/New Zealand–U.S. East Coast service, adding ports such as Philadelphia and Savannah. While not a core Asia–North America lane, it reflects continued carrier willingness to deploy capacity into differentiated corridors that may suit specialized sourcing strategies.
Carrier strategy highlights
- Tacoma removed from at least one major trans-Pacific loop
- Haiphong added to a Vancouver-calling service, improving northern Vietnam access
- New ANZ–USEC service broadens routing diversity for select shippers
Commentary
For U.S. and Canadian importers, the market is now firmly in a “rates easing, capacity tightening” phase. This favors shippers who can book early on constrained weeks while keeping commercial flexibility to take advantage of softening spot prices where space is available.
What to do now
- Track February blank sailings closely on your core Asia–North America strings; they are the primary determinant of space risk in the next 3–4 weeks
- If you rely on the Pacific Northwest, review service changes affecting Tacoma and ensure your forwarders provide viable alternatives via Vancouver, Los Angeles, or Oakland
- If sourcing from northern Vietnam, evaluate the new Haiphong-inclusive services to Vancouver for potential transit-time and reliability gains
- Consider selective diversification thorugh the Gulf Coast, where capacity additions and strong truck productivity are imporving overall supply chain resilience
