Importing into the US East Coast now costs USD 3,334 per FEU more than the US West Coast — a spread larger than the entire cost of shipping a box to either coast before the Middle East crisis began on 28 February. Xeneta's market average spot rates for 21 August 2026 show Far East to US East Coast at USD 10,527 per FEU against USD 7,193 per FEU into the West Coast.

For shippers with routing flexibility, the arbitrage is hard to ignore.

"If a shipper has the flexibility of importing goods into US West Coast instead of US East Coast, then they must seriously consider it because there is dramatic savings potential, even if it means a heavier reliance on truck and rail to reach the final destination," said Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst.

The spread itself tells the story of how violently the market has moved. Before the crisis, spot rates stood at USD 1,879 per FEU into the US West Coast and USD 2,651 per FEU into the East Coast. Today's gap between the two trades exceeds both of those baseline totals.

What does the divergence mean for shippers?

US-bound trades kept climbing this week. Far East to US West Coast rose 2.7% week on week; Far East to US East Coast gained 2.8%. Since 28 February, the two trades are up 283% and 297% respectively — evidence, in Sand's words, of "the negotiating strength carriers have right now."

Europe tells the opposite story. Far East to North Europe spot rates fell 2.8% week on week to USD 4,801 per FEU, and Far East to Mediterranean dropped 3.8% to USD 5,526 per FEU. Both trades have been softening for over a month.

"The European trades show there is a ceiling, with spot rates into North Europe and Mediterranean softening for over a month," Sand said. "US shippers should certainly look towards Europe when negotiating because it shows carriers are not invincible and it is possible to negotiate lower rates."

Where do the rate numbers stand?

Market average spot rates, 21 August 2026:

• Far East to US West Coast: USD 7,193 per FEU (+2.7% week on week)
• Far East to US East Coast: USD 10,527 per FEU (+2.8%)
• Far East to North Europe: USD 4,801 per FEU (–2.8%)
• Far East to Mediterranean: USD 5,526 per FEU (–3.8%)
• North Europe to US East Coast: USD 2,734 per FEU (+0.1%)

Gains since 28 February, pre-crisis:

• Far East to US West Coast: +283%
• Far East to US East Coast: +297%
• Far East to North Europe: +116%
• Far East to Mediterranean: +66%
• North Europe to US East Coast: +85%

How are long-term contracts moving?

Long-term rates have repriced far more slowly than spot, but the drift is unambiguous. Since 28 February:

• Far East to US West Coast: +39%, to USD 2,812 per FEU
• Far East to US East Coast: +42%, to USD 4,399 per FEU
• Far East to North Europe: +50%, to USD 2,879 per FEU
• Far East to Mediterranean: +19%, to USD 2,681 per FEU
• North Europe to US East Coast: +56%, to USD 2,155 per FEU

The gap between long-term and spot levels — USD 4,381 per FEU on the US East Coast trade — signals steep renewal risk for BCOs heading into the next contracting cycle, while carriers hold pricing power on transpacific fixtures in the short term.

Why are US and European trades splitting?

Sand points to uncertainty as the differentiator. "Uncertainty is toxic for supply chains and the uncertainty feels more severe in the US, which could explain why rates are still heading upwards," he said.

That uncertainty premium keeps US fronthaul rates climbing even as European lanes cool, and it rewards shippers who can shift gateways, absorb inland costs and renegotiate aggressively. "This underlines the dynamic approach supply chain professionals must take in managing resilience and freight spend during major market shocks," Sand said.

With European spot rates now falling for more than a month while US trades set fresh highs, the transpacific–Far East/Europe divergence looks set to widen further before any policy or capacity relief caps carrier leverage.