Shipping rates ease, but insurers keep war-risk premia at summer highs
Spot prices for containers out of East Asia slipped for a third week, yet the cost of covering a voyage through contested waters has barely moved.
Freight desks in Hamburg and Singapore reported another modest drop in spot rates, a relief for retailers stocking winter lines. The catch sits in the small print: war-risk add-ons that were raised in June remain in force.
Underwriters argue that a quieter week is not a quieter route. “We price the next incident, not the last quiet Friday,” said one London syndicate head.
Importers say the split market — cheaper boxes, expensive cover — makes planning harder than a simple spike. Several European chains have already shifted a slice of volume to air for high-margin goods.
