The rapid increase in shipping prices is rare, with "scarcity of shipping space" reappearing; industry insiders say the shipping price trend for the second half of the year remains unclear.

Golden Ten Data reported on June 5 that international shipping prices have continued to rise recently. The main contract of the Container Shipping Index (European Line) futures has increased by more than 50% since late April. In addition, leading shipping companies such as Maersk and CMA CGM have issued concentrated price adjustment notices, and shortages of space on several shipping routes have emerged. The head of an international freight forwarding company in Suzhou, Jiangsu, stated that shipping rates have increased to varying degrees on European, South American, and Southeast Asian routes, and the speed and magnitude of this round of price hikes are both rare. Industry insiders explained that the current surge in shipping prices is primarily due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East driving up shipping costs, the refinement of global division of labor and geopolitical risk aversion stimulating ongoing restocking demand, and a concentrated release of overseas stocking needs. Europe and the US are starting their pre-stocking cycles ahead of the peak consumption season in the second half of the year, resulting in a surge in cargo volume and a rapid tightening of space supply and demand. However, the outlook for shipping prices in the second half of the year remains uncertain.