Logistics News (Nov 15-21): Peak Season & Rate Hikes

Author: Guanwutong Published Date: November 21, 2025

Executive Summary: As we move deeper into Q4, the “Peak Season” effect is fully visible across both air and ocean modes. We are witnessing a strategic tightening of capacity by carriers to sustain rate levels ahead of Chinese New Year (CNY).

Simultaneously, regional integration within Asia is accelerating, with major players launching new sea-air products to serve the booming cross-border e-commerce market between China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Intra-Asia & Regional Connectivity

The News:

Sinotrans & LX Pantos Launch Sea-Air JV: China’s Sinotrans and South Korea’s LX Pantos have formed a joint venture, “FutureLinks.” This strategic move utilizes Incheon Airport (ICN) as a hub to handle e-commerce cargo from China via a sea-air multimodal model. (Source: The Loadstar)

DHL Upgrades Hong Kong-Penang Route: To support the surge in semiconductor and electronic trade, DHL has upgraded its aircraft on this route, adding 20 tons of capacity per flight. (Source: FreightWaves | Payload Asia)

Chongqing-ASEAN Logistics Cooperation: A new conference held in Chongqing emphasized the “New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor,” signaling deeper multimodal integration between Western China and ASEAN. (Source: PR News)

GWT Insight:

Why It Matters: For B2B clients in the high-tech and e-commerce sectors, speed and cost balance is critical. The Sinotrans-LX Pantos JV highlights the growing importance of Sea-Air multimodal transport. If direct air freight from China is too expensive or congested, routing via Korea or using the land-sea corridor to ASEAN are viable, cost-effective alternatives.

実施内容： Review your Q1 2026 routing. Ask GWT about multimodal options if you are facing air freight budget constraints.

Ocean Freight Market

The News:

Carriers Push for Dec 1 & Pre-CNY Rate Hikes: Carriers on the Asia-Europe trade are leveraging capacity cuts (blank sailings) to push through General Rate Increases (GRIs) starting December 1st. (Source: JOC | The Loadstar)
Asian Carriers Outperform on Margins: Financial results show Asian liners (like Wan Hai) are seeing better profit margins than European peers, largely due to better cost control and less reliance on the expensive charter market. (Source: The Loadstar)
China-Europe Trade Surplus Grows: For the first time, China’s trade surplus with Europe has exceeded that with the US, indicating a structural shift in export flows. (Source: AJOT)

GWT Insight:

Why It Matters: The data suggests that despite fluctuating demand, carriers are determined to keep rates elevated through the Lunar New Year. The focus of Chinese exports is diversifying, with Europe and ASEAN becoming increasingly critical.

実施内容： Do not bet on spot rates dropping in December. Book space 3-4 weeks in advance to avoid rolling, especially for shipments to Rotterdam and Hamburg.

Air Cargo & Compliance

The News:

Black Friday Squeezes Capacity: E-commerce volume is tightening Trans-Pacific capacity, pushing rates up. High-tech shippers are competing for space. (Source: JOC)
New US CBP Screening Rules: A new rule from US Customs requires earlier and more detailed data submission (ACAS) for air cargo to enhance security. This is a significant operational shift. (Source: FreightWaves)
HKIA & Hong Kong’s Role: Hong Kong remains the “Superconnector.” HKIA cargo volume rose 2.9% in October, proving its resilience despite global supply chain shifts. (Source: Payload Asia | AJOT)

GWT Insight:

Why It Matters: The new US CBP rule is an operational game-changer. Inaccurate or late data transmission will lead to cargo being held at origin (China/HK), missing flights.

実施内容： Ensure your commercial invoices and packing lists are 100% accurate before handover. Work with a forwarder (like GWT) who has AEO certification and strong data compliance capabilities.

Supply Chain Risk Watch

The News:

Yttrium Shortage: Global supplies of Yttrium (a rare earth element) are tightening due to export controls. (Source: Reuters)

GWT Insight:

Why It Matters: For our clients in Japan and Korea (semiconductor and electronics manufacturing), raw material stability is key. Supply chain diversification and securing logistics for strategic stockpiling are becoming urgent.

実施内容： Action: Assess your critical inventory levels. If you are planning strategic stockpiling, contact GWT to arrange priority shipping or bonded warehousing solutions to secure your production line.

Partner with GWT Shipping

Reliability in a Volatile Market

The market is shifting fast. New compliance rules in the US, sea-air options in Korea, and capacity squeezes in Southeast Asia. You need more than a booking agent; you need a partner who anticipates these changes.

Why GWT Shipping?

Regional Expertise: Deeply rooted in Shenzhen, we have strong networks across China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. We know the best routes for your specific cargo.
Compliance First: As an AEO and WCA certified forwarder, we ensure your data meets the new, stricter CBP requirements, preventing costly delays.
The “Tough Stuff” Specialists: Whether it is high-tech electronics, batteries (DG cargo), or urgent project cargo, we handle the packaging and paperwork that others refuse.

Disclaimer: This article aggregates publicly available industry news from reputable sources and provides GWT Shipping’s independent analysis for informational purposes only. All intellectual property rights to the original news content belong to their respective publishers. Links to original sources are provided for reference.

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