TL;DR — May 2026 in one breath. Trans-Pacific rates climbed all month as carriers pulled capacity faster than demand recovered. Spot rates roughly doubled from their March lows, with Shanghai→US West Coast landing near $2,800/FEU and Shanghai→US East Coast near $3,800/FEU by mid-May. Behind the move: early peak-season frontloading after the US–China tariff truce, heavy May Day blank sailings (~25% of Trans-Pacific slots pulled), ongoing Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz diversions, and elevated fuel. Carriers have stacked large June GRIs ($1,000–$3,000/FEU) on top — so May was the calm before a steeper climb.

The headline: a rising, carrier-driven market

May was defined by one dynamic — rates rose because carriers tightened supply, not because demand exploded. The Drewry World Container Index posted four straight weekly gains through the month, moving from roughly $2,550 in mid-May to about $2,800 by the May 28 reading. On the China-specific gauges it was even sharper: the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) climbed for five consecutive weeks to around 2,218 points by late May — a ~70% jump from February’s lows.

The practical takeaway for anyone shipping from China to the US: the bargain rates of late winter are gone, and the market has shifted firmly into the carriers’ favor heading into peak season.

Ocean freight: China → USA spot rates (May 2026)

Lane	Typical spot range (40ft / FEU)	Direction in May
Shanghai → Los Angeles (US West Coast)	~$2,000–$2,900	Rising
Shanghai → New York (US East Coast)	~$3,300–$3,900	Rising

West Coast spot rates sat around $2,800/FEU on the mid-May SCFI read, up steadily week over week.
East Coast rates ran roughly $1,000/FEU higher, near $3,800/FEU, reflecting longer routings and tighter all-water capacity.
20ft (TEU/20GP) containers generally priced 10–20% below the 40HQ rate.
Transit times held in the usual band: ~15–35 days door-relevant, depending on port pair, service, and congestion.

Air & express: firm and elevated

Air freight stayed expensive through May. China → US air rates held around $6.5–$7.0/kg, up roughly 20% since late February, as Middle East conflict squeezed global cargo capacity and pushed jet-fuel costs higher. Volume breakpoints still matter — heavier consignments (100kg+) priced meaningfully below small shipments, while sub-100kg parcels often saw $8–$9/kg. Express and air remain the go-to only for time-critical or high-value-density cargo.

What drove the market in May

Early peak-season frontloading. With the US–China trade truce holding, importers raced to stock up ahead of back-to-school and holiday seasons — and ahead of any future tariff changes — pulling demand forward into May.
Aggressive capacity management. Blank sailings around the May Day holiday removed roughly 25% of Trans-Pacific Eastbound slots, and deployment dropped to about 82% — the lowest since just after Chinese New Year. Less space + steady bookings = higher prices.
Long-haul capacity drag. Continued Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz disruption and Cape of Good Hope routings kept effective fleet capacity absorbed, supporting a higher cost floor.
Tariff & policy uncertainty. A US Court of International Trade ruling in early May challenged certain Section 122 tariffs, with a temporary 10% measure stepping in and importers chasing refunds — adding planning noise that encouraged shippers to move cargo while they could.
Elevated fuel. Bunker and aviation fuel costs stayed high, reinforcing carriers’ rate-increase rationale across both ocean and air.

Port & congestion watch

Congestion was uneven but real. Several Far East hubs saw vessel waits and berth delays, and capacity discipline at US gateways kept the system tight. The net effect amplified the rate climb — when space is scarce and turnarounds slow, even modest demand pushes prices up quickly.

Outlook: brace for June

May’s steady climb looks like a warm-up. Carriers announced substantial June General Rate Increases (GRIs) of roughly $1,000–$3,000/FEU, plus Peak Season Surcharges, with capacity deployment projected to recover toward ~90% later in June. If peak volumes converge with still-limited space, those increases are likely to stick in the near term — with potential relief only later in the summer as more capacity returns.

What importers should do now

Book earlier than usual. Pull your normal lead times forward 2–3 weeks; peak-season space tightens fast once GRIs land.
Lock in where you can. For steady volumes, secure contract/NAC space rather than riding the spot market into June spikes.
Compare quotes on the same scope. A port-to-port ocean rate, an LCL per-CBM rate, and a door-to-door DDP rate are not the same number — align Incoterms before comparing.
Build a buffer. With rates volatile and tariffs in flux, add margin to landed-cost models and confirm duty/HS treatment before shipping.
Keep a mode mix. Use air/express selectively for the SKUs that genuinely can’t wait, and keep the bulk on ocean.

Rates are spot-market benchmarks and move daily by port pair, service level, cargo type, and season. For a live quote on your specific China→USA lane, talk to our team.

FAQ

What were China–USA ocean freight rates in May 2026?

Spot rates ran roughly $2,000–$2,900/FEU to the US West Coast and $3,300–$3,900/FEU to the US East Coast, trending upward through the month. Mid-May benchmark reads put West Coast near $2,800 and East Coast near $3,800 per 40ft container.

Why did China to USA freight rates rise in May?

Mainly carrier-driven capacity tightening — heavy May Day blank sailings removed about a quarter of Trans-Pacific slots — combined with early peak-season frontloading, Red Sea / Strait of Hormuz routing pressure, and elevated fuel costs.

What about China to USA air freight rates?

China to US air held around $6.5–$7.0/kg, up roughly 20% since late February, driven by reduced global cargo capacity and higher fuel costs.

Will China–USA freight rates keep climbing in June 2026?

Likely yes in the near term. Carriers have announced large June General Rate Increases ($1,000–$3,000/FEU) and Peak Season Surcharges; relief may come later in the summer as capacity is restored.

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China–USA Freight Market Update — May 2026