More from the article ...

... The spot rate for a 40-foot container to northern Europe from Asia rose to $3,649 as of Friday, a 27% increase from week earlier, according to Xeneta, an Oslo-based freight platform. The cost to the US West Coast from Asia was up 20%, to $3,933.

The numbers align with Drewry's latest composite reading for several long-haul routes, which also showed short-term rates posting a steep jump over the past week to the highest level in about a year.

Xeneta's figures showed rates to the US from Asia are up 109% since the US war with Iran started on Feb. 28, while charges for Europe-bound containers are up more than 50%. Carriers are adding fuel surcharges and forcing importers to shoulder costs tied to the energy crisis.

On top of those added fees is tighter capacity heading into busy months for inventory restocking -- July and August.

Shipments rerouted because of the blocked Strait of Hormuz are causing backups at Southeast Asian hubs including Singapore and Malaysia's Port Klang, spreading the capacity pressures to trade lanes far from the Persian Gulf. ...

As I remember from recent past years, the July, August shipping season seems to be the shipments of Christmas goods (toys, et al.) into the US.

Yeah, I once worked in the toy department of a department store for a summer when I was in college.

I remember that during the last weeks of that employment, i.e., August, I had to load up the stockroom shelves with toys arriving for Christmas.

&n bsp

@#4 ... Well, Long Beach - San Pedro is in California, so why not punish the whole country because we don't vote straight Pedophile ticket. ...

What's yer got on those ports affecting the price of container shipment?