Container Rates Are Falling. Dover Is Another Story.

The 5 Minute Shipper, Issue 2, published 27 July 2026

Container spot rates fell for a second week as carriers returned capacity, while Channel freight through Dover faced six hour queues and Operation Brock on the M20. Plus the new canal transit surcharges by vessel type.

Container Rates Keep Dropping

Global container rates fell for the second week running. The Drewry World Container Index dropped 4% to $4,374 per 40ft container (23 July), while Xeneta's Far East to North Europe spot rate edged down 1% to $5,212 per FEU (24 July).

The cause is capacity. Carriers are putting ships back into service. On the Transpacific, blank sailings fell from nine to six. On Asia to Europe, carriers added four blank sailings to slow the slide, but vessel capacity is still growing faster than demand.

What it means for you. If you import from Asia, this is a window. Rates are softening and carriers are competing for cargo, so it is a good moment to fix contract rates while the direction of travel is down. Drewry expected further softening on Asia to Europe in the near term.

One thing to watch: physical crude prices in Europe hit two month highs in the same week. If energy costs keep climbing, fuel surcharges follow, and a rate decline can reverse quickly.

Route Watch: UK to Europe Channel Crossings

If you move freight through Dover, this is a difficult summer.

Operation Brock has been active on the M20 since 14 July and runs until 24 August. All freight vehicles heading for Channel crossings must use the M20, and HGVs are issued Brock permits that tie them to a specific crossing operator.

On Friday 25 July the Port of Dover declared a critical incident after queues reached six hours. The trigger was a surge of holiday traffic on the first weekend of the English school holidays arriving at the same time as reduced border processing capacity. The EU biometric Entry/Exit System, live since April, adds time to every passport check. BIFA warned members to expect congestion every Friday and Saturday through early September.

What to do about it.

• Avoid Friday and Saturday Channel crossings where you can. Midweek departures face far less congestion.
• Consider short sea alternatives. Portsmouth to Bilbao for Spain bound cargo, or services from Immingham and Tilbury, bypass Dover entirely.
• Build buffer into delivery schedules. If you run just in time supply chains through the Channel, add 24 to 48 hours until Operation Brock ends on 24 August.

Practical Tip: New Canal Transit Surcharges from 15 July

Canal transit surcharges rose from 15 July. The increases by vessel type were: container ships 12%, dry bulk carriers 22%, laden tankers 37%, LNG carriers 19%, and general cargo or ro-ro 26%.

These are temporary charges that can be amended as market conditions change. For UK importers sourcing from Asia, the 12% container surcharge filters through as a line item on the freight invoice. Check your quotes and ask your logistics partner whether the surcharge is already included in the rate or will be added separately. The difference on a full container is not trivial, and it is easier to argue about before the cargo moves than after.

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