Carriers under Pressure as Ocean Freight Spot Rates Slide Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Spot freight rates in the container shipping market are once again hovering around pre-pandemic levels, putting growing pressure on liner companies, according to a recent analysis by Sea-Intelligence.

The intelligence firm warns of further downwards momentum, suggesting that the current rate environment is far from the elevated levels that carriers had enjoyed over the past few years.

This decline comes amid a backdrop of increased capacity, aggressive competition, and weakening demand that is forcing carriers to rethink their strategies. The squeeze is expected to intensify, particularly for lines that struggle to cover their operating costs under current rate conditions.

Some carriers are already responding with tactical measures such as blank sailings (cancelling scheduled voyages) and service adjustments in an attempt to better manage capacity and protect margins.

But the pressure isn’t only operational, the long-term outlook could force a structural reset in how carriers bid for volume. Unless the market rebounds, shipping lines may be headed into a more disciplined, cost-focused era.