In early November 2026, the container shipping market shows two main themes.

First, capacity on major routes has hit record highs — but not because of strong demand. Sea-Intelligence data shows that from October to November, average weekly capacity on Asia–North Europe routes exceeded 350,000 TEU, while Asia–US West Coast capacity is expected to approach 400,000 TEU in November — breaking the usual post-Golden Week contraction pattern. The main cause is port congestion and schedule delays in Asia, which pushed vessels into October and November. Capacity looks ample on paper, but schedule reliability remains a challenge.

Second, Red Sea reopening is accelerating, gradually releasing capacity on Europe routes. Premier Alliance will reroute two Asia–Mediterranean services via the Suez Canal starting in November. It is estimated that from November to December, 70–80% of westbound and 80–90% of eastbound Asia–Mediterranean capacity will pass through Suez; about 60% of Asia–Europe services are expected to return, with full recovery projected by Q1 2027. Reopening shortens transit times and speeds up vessel turnover, putting downward pressure on Europe route rates.

On the US routes, rates remain high — about USD 8,340/FEU to the US West Coast and USD 9,911/FEU to the US East Coast. Carriers' planned rate increases face limited acceptance. The strike risk involving security personnel at Los Angeles/Long Beach has been temporarily postponed but still warrants attention.

On safety, the fire aboard the "Espirito Santo Express" in mid-October lasted two weeks, with most cargo expected to be severely damaged or totally lost — a reminder of the importance of compliant declaration and insurance arrangements.

Summary: Capacity figures are high but schedules are disrupted, and Red Sea reopening is reshaping supply and demand on Europe routes. For shippers, booking space early, monitoring schedule reliability, and carefully assessing rate trends remain prudent strategies.