Asian Shipping: Takeaways from container shipping expert call

Research evidence excerpt

Asian Shipping: Takeaways from container shipping expert call

Global Research

22 June 2026ab

First Read

EquitiesAsian Shipping

Takeaways from container shipping expert call Asia

Marine Transport

Robin Xu

Potential upside in peak season amid supply chain disruptions Analyst

Today we hosted the commercial director of a leading global container shipping bin.xu@ubs.com

company to discuss the outlook for container volumes and freight rates in 2026 peak +86-21-3866 8872

season. Key takeaways are as follows: 1) Peak season has started earlier than usual this Zed Sheng

year and may extend through late August; 2) Effective shipping capacity remains Analyst

constrained by port congestion, longer voyage distances, lower sailing speeds, and S1460525030003

network disruptions, resulting in a much smaller increase in effective capacity than zed.sheng@ubs.com

+86-21-3866 8730suggested by nominal fleet growth; 3) China going global theme has strengthened YTD,

supported primarily by demand from chemicals, construction materials, steel structures, Bruce Mi

and new energy-related sectors. Analyst

S1460522060001

bruce.mi@ubs.comPeak season is likely to extend through late August

+86-21-3866 8851

Expert believes the strong shipping demand in Q226 can be attributed to front-loading

Cristian Nedelcu, CFAahead of expected fuel-cost adjustments in Q326, which could account for up to 30%

Analyst

of the contract freight rates on China-US route. In addition, uncertainty surrounding US

cristian.nedelcu@ubs.com

tariff policy and geopolitical risks has prompted overseas customers to build +44-20-7568 4375

precautionary inventories earlier than usual. The expert also highlighted that shortages

of certain petrochemical feedstocks in ASEAN markets have led some manufacturing