Global maritime freight rates, long regarded as one of the most cost-efficient modes of transporting goods worldwide, have surged to their highest level in two years. The sharp increase reflects a combination of geopolitical instability, shifting trade policy expectations, capacity management by shipping lines, and ongoing disruptions to key maritime corridors.

According to industry data from Freightos and reporting by The Financial Times, container shipping costs on major Asia–US and Asia–Europe routes have climbed steeply, signaling renewed volatility in global supply chains.

One of the most striking developments has been the rapid escalation of rates on key intercontinental routes. Freightos data shows that the cost of shipping a standard 40-foot container from China to the U.S. East Coast has risen to approximately $7,880, marking a 62% increase within a single month. Similarly, shipments from China to the Mediterranean have climbed by 47%, reaching around $6,431 per container.

These levels represent the highest rates recorded since the summer of 2024, when global shipping markets experienced similar turbulence driven by security threats in the Red Sea. At that time, prices........

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