Transpacific ocean freight spot rates edged lower in the week ending Nov. 10 as U.S. import demand cooled after the holiday build, according to reporting from Supply Chain Dive citing Freightos’ weekly index. The move is modest week over week, and shippers still pay far more than they did a year ago.
Spot rates still far above 2025
Asia-to-U.S. West Coast spot rates fell 1% to $8,245 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) as of Nov. 10 on the Freightos Baltic Index. Asia-to-U.S. East Coast spot stood at $9,708 per FEU, down 2% week over week. Freightos noted that slowing demand at U.S. ports may be helping ease prices. By comparison, in November 2025 West Coast spot was $2,958 per FEU and East Coast $3,513 per FEU, meaning current levels remain more than double last year’s.
Peak volumes taper; ports stay busy
The National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates’ Global Port Tracker still describes volumes as strong even as peak season winds down. NRF supply chain lead Jonathan Gold said retailers have largely moved holiday inventory and expect demand to ease. October imports are projected at 2.26 million TEUs, slightly below 2.37 million in the prior month. November is forecast at 2.05 million TEUs and December at 2.03 million.
Congestion and labor risk on the West Coast
Extended peak-season traffic has contributed to backups, especially on the West Coast where cargo has waited longer to reach rail, Gold said. The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association reported elevated dwell at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in September: local truck dwell averaged 3.18 days (up from 2.95 in August) and rail dwell 7.19 days (up from 6.75). Separately, contract talks between the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union Local 26 and the Pacific Maritime Association cover about 250 watchmen at six San Pedro Bay container terminals. Strike deadlines have been postponed twice; the latest was extended to Nov. 20, per PMA correspondence cited by Supply Chain Dive. Higher diesel costs and the timing of the extended U.S., China trade truce had also driven frontloading at ports such as Los Angeles earlier in the season.