Weekly logistics and ocean freight report: October 20, 2026

Global indices rebound after Golden Week, and South America splits between its two coasts. The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) rose 3% to US$4,485 per 40ft container (Oct 15, 2026), ending three weeks of declines on the back of Asia–Europe. The global Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) closed the week at US$3,560/FEU (Oct 16–17), 6.5% above the US$3,344 of October 10. Towards South America, the +US$1,000 GRI of October 15 passed through strongly on the West Coast (Chile, Peru), while East Coast rates (Brazil, Argentina) kept correcting: the SCFI South America (Santos) fell between 4% and 7% on the week, depending on the source.

Global indices

The WCI moved from US$4,351 (Oct 8) to US$4,485 (Oct 15). Over the previous six weeks it traded in a US$4,351–4,500 band (period high on Sep 17). The global FBX had posted six weekly readings that were lower or flat since US$3,484 (Sep 5) and jumped to US$3,560; according to the Baltic Exchange, the rise was driven mainly by Asia–US East Coast.

In China, the SCFI rose 0.42% to 3,679.58 points (Oct 16), its second consecutive gain; the CCFI gained 0.54% to 1,922.64 and Ningbo's NCFI 2.67% to 2,496.79. Since October 16, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange publishes new 40ft sub-indices (Europe, Mediterranean, South America-Santos and Central/South America West Coast-Manzanillo) and has changed the composite weights: Santos 40ft now weighs 5% and Santos 20ft 0%.

Main East–West routes

According to Drewry (Oct 15), Shanghai–Rotterdam rose 6% to US$3,522 and Shanghai–Genoa 7% to US$3,945 per 40ft container: the first increase on Asia–Europe after 13 consecutive weeks of decline. On the Transpacific, Shanghai–Los Angeles rose 3% to US$7,884 and Shanghai–New York fell 1% to US$10,075. Carriers are seeking FAK rates of US$4,500–4,800 per 40ft on Asia–Europe from October 19, but Drewry sees their implementation as uncertain: only 2 blank sailings are announced on that trade next week (6 this week) and the return to Suez is adding capacity.

In the FBX (Baltic Exchange, week 42), Asia–US East Coast moved from US$9,606 to US$10,772/FEU, US West Coast from US$8,118 to US$8,173, North Europe from US$3,380 to US$3,692 and the Mediterranean from US$3,876 to US$4,142. Xeneta (Oct 16) puts Far East–US West Coast at US$8,296/FEU (−0.2%), US East Coast at US$11,495 (−0.1%), North Europe at US$3,568 (+2.5%) and the Mediterranean at US$4,165 (+3.2%). In the SCFI (Oct 16), Europe rose to US$2,335/TEU (+2.68%) and US$3,547/FEU (+2.67%), the Mediterranean to US$3,250/TEU (+8.26%) and US$4,097/FEU (+8.10%), while the US West Coast eased to US$7,525/FEU (−0.78%) and the US East Coast to US$10,405/FEU (−1.13%).

Focus on South America: Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Peru

West Coast (Chile, Peru): the increase stuck. From October 15, Hapag-Lloyd's Far East to WCSA tariff went from US$5,200 to US$6,200 per 40ft Dry (from US$5,000 to US$6,000 per 20ft). Global Resources (Oct 16) rates the lane as a "strong rebound / upward trend", with references of US$6,400–7,000 per 40ft GP and US$6,000–6,600 per 20ft GP for Oct 15–31, and attributes it to carrier capacity control (Golden Week blank sailings, rolled bookings) more than to a broad recovery in demand. In Chile, Seimex reports China–Chile shipments closed at US$5,300 per 40ft between Oct 1 and 14 and at US$5,900 between Oct 15 and 21. RS Logistics (Oct 14) adds that further increases have been announced for Mexico and WCSA from October 15 and 22, with bookings already extending into the last week of the month. In the October 16 SCFI, Central/South America West Coast was among the lanes posting gains.

East Coast (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay): the market remains below published tariffs. Hapag-Lloyd's tariff to ECSA went from US$5,700 to US$6,700 per 40ft Dry, but Global Resources sees the lane as "stable with small downward correction", at US$5,500–5,800 per 40ft GP and US$5,200–5,500 per 20ft GP for Oct 15–31. In its September 15 report, the same provider gave US$8,700–9,000 per 40ft GP for Oct 1–14. It explains the weakness by soft bookings and price competition, moderate demand in Brazil, a gradual recovery of Argentine imports and additional capacity, such as the Hapag-Lloyd/ZIM AS3 weekly service launched in September. The SCFI South America (Santos) 20ft fell to US$5,529/TEU (−6.68%) according to Global Resources, and to US$5,677 (−US$248) according to the 海运网 note published by AMZ123. We could not access the official lane table to resolve the difference. On the service network, RS Logistics reports that Maersk will leave its joint ECSA service with CMA CGM in December 2026 and that Hapag-Lloyd will exit the service it operates with MSC and ONE in January 2027.

Bunker, ports and canals

Singapore VLSFO traded at US$934 per tonne on Oct 19, 4.6% above Oct 12 (US$892.50); IFO380 rose to US$907.50 (US$823 on Oct 12), narrowing the scrubber spread to US$26.50. In Rotterdam VLSFO reached US$755.50 (+2.8%) and in Santos US$837.50, almost unchanged. According to Freightos, bunker prices keep climbing despite recovering Middle East crude exports, with attacks around Hormuz escalating.

In the Red Sea, Xeneta estimates that weekly scheduled capacity crossing Bab el-Mandeb reached 448,273 TEU as of October 5: double the level of August 27, but 48% of the 930,679 TEU of August 2023. Freightos warns that the Houthi–Saudi escalation raises the risk of renewed attacks on container ships. In Panama, the Canal Authority set the maximum Neopanamax draft at 14.94 m (49 ft) and from October 15 allows 10 daily Neopanamax transits, 33 slots in total; booking remains the only way to guarantee a transit date. Drewry expects 44 blank sailings out of 713 scheduled between weeks 43 and 47 (6%): 44% on Asia–North Europe/Mediterranean, 36% on the Transpacific eastbound and 20% on the Transatlantic.

At the region's ports, the median berthing wait in Santos fell to 0.46 days (about 11 hours) in the week of Oct 11–17, with low congestion, although container ships that miss their window wait two to three days (Portcast and Sindamar-SP, via FUP News). In Hapag-Lloyd's week 43 update, San Antonio Terminal (Chile) shows berth productivity in strong decline and cargo dwell time above target, while Buenos Aires terminals are improving. At origin, RS Logistics reports berthing waits of 2 to 5 days at Waigaoqiao and up to about 14 days at Yangshan Phase IV (Shanghai), affecting some Latin America services.

Outlook

Drewry expects stable rates next week on the Transpacific and Asia–Europe; the question is whether the October 19 FAKs hold against added capacity. The NRF projects US ocean imports to drop 11% in November versus October (Freightos), which puts downward pressure on the Transpacific. In South America, Global Resources expects US$6,900–7,400 per 40ft on the West Coast for Nov 1–14, with a correction risk in the second half of the month, and US$5,600–6,100 on the East Coast, within a narrow range. For Chile and Peru, book early and confirm whether the carrier applies the rate by actual sailing date; for Brazil and Argentina, compare quotes, since the market is trading below published tariffs.

At Solo Rep we help clients with projects in Argentina and Chile read this logistics context when planning purchases and shipments. Write to us at matias@solo-rep.com or through Contact.