Waves of Change: Shipping Faces Longer Routes, Higher Costs, and Asia’s Return to Form

By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News
June 10, 2025 – Section: Maritime / Ocean Freight

The global ocean freight industry is adjusting to yet another shift in momentum. This week, a new set of forces is reshaping the dynamics of maritime trade: rerouted vessels, tightening capacity, congested ports, and the rapid resurgence of Asian export markets.

In recent months, shipping lines have increasingly diverted traffic away from the Suez Canal due to ongoing regional instability. As a result, many container vessels are sailing around the Cape of Good Hope—a detour that adds over 10 days to key Asia–Europe and Asia–US East Coast routes. The impact on scheduling has been immediate and far-reaching.

“It’s not just the longer route. It’s what that longer route delays,” said Joseph Lin, a freight broker in Hong Kong. “It squeezes capacity, throws off rotation, and affects everything from chassis availability to warehouse bookings.”

As carriers absorb these operational shocks, spot rates have continued to climb. On the Asia–Europe corridor, rates have risen by over 17% in the past two weeks, according to multiple freight index sources. Rates on transpacific lanes are also creeping up as demand rebounds.

The uptick in export activity from Asia is another critical factor. In Vietnam, India, and South Korea, outbound container volumes surged in early June, driven by stronger orders in electronics, textiles, and automotive components. Port authorities in Shanghai and Busan are now reporting backlogs at export terminals.

Meanwhile, bottlenecks are appearing further down the chain. Congestion has returned to key transshipment hubs like Singapore and Rotterdam, where container dwell times are increasing and berth availability is tightening.

Major alliances have begun altering schedules to avoid the worst of the delays. Some carriers are skipping port calls entirely, prioritizing faster turnaround and better alignment with inland distribution windows.

Forwarders are advising clients to adjust expectations: longer lead times, more flexible routing, and a greater tolerance for volatility will likely define ocean shipping through the next quarter.

“Shippers who still expect pre-2020 predictability are falling behind,” noted Isabel Romero, a logistics strategist based in Madrid. “The ones who win are those who can plan in uncertainty—and execute despite it.”

As midyear approaches, the freight landscape remains tense but not static. While challenges are piling up, they are also revealing which players are equipped to pivot, communicate clearly, and deliver despite global turbulence.

Maria Kalamatas
Senior Correspondent – Maritime & Global Trade
The Logistic News

The post Waves of Change: Shipping Faces Longer Routes, Higher Costs, and Asia’s Return to Form appeared first on The Logistic News.