Shipping capacity within Asia is tightening significantly as ocean carriers redeploy vessels from regional short-sea services into more profitable long-haul trades, pushing intra-Asia ocean rates to record highs while AI hardware demand and year-end retail demand keep airfreight corridors congested through the end of 2026.
- Intra-Asia ocean rates from China have reached record highs due to vessel redeployments, scarce feeder ships, and cancelled sailings on regional routes to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea.
- The Global Manufacturing PMI rose to 53 in September 2026, its highest level since February 2022, with Taiwan's manufacturing PMI reaching 56.7, supporting strong freight demand.
- Approximately 63% of Far East-Europe capacity has returned via Suez, with full restoration expected by Q1 2027, potentially creating renewed pricing pressure.
- AI chip and server exports from Taiwan to the U.S. remain extremely tight, overlapping with Black Friday and Christmas demand, while China-U.S. airfreight rates are expected to ease moderately.
- Regional capacity conditions vary: Thailand faces ocean backlogs, Vietnam reports tight U.S.-bound space, while Singapore and India show softer capacity with stable rates across major lanes.
Dimerco Express Group’s November 2026 Asia Pacific Freight Reportv finds a growing squeeze on shipping capacity within Asia as carriers move vessels from regional services into long-haul trades. The shift is pushing intra-Asia ocean rates out of China to record highs, while AI hardware and year-end retail demand keep key airfreight corridors tight.
The report cites a rise in the Global Manufacturing PMI to 53 in September from 52.3 in August, its highest level since February 2022 and a 14th consecutive month above 50. Taiwan’s manufacturing PMI reached 56.7 as export activity supported demand for freight capacity.
“Everyone is watching Suez and the transpacific, but the tightest space in Asia right now is on the short-sea lanes. When carriers pull feeder tonnage into deep-sea trades, a regional box can be harder to place than one bound for Europe - give intra-Asia bookings the same lead time as long-haul,” says Ted Chen, director, ocean freight, global sales and marketing, Dimerco Express Group.
“The U.S. rally has peaked, but space isn’t opening up,” says Kathy Liu, VP, global sales and marketing, Dimerco Express Group.
Key takeaways:
· Vessel redeployments, scarce feeder ships and cancelled sailings are restricting space on regional services from China. North China routes to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia remain tight, while South Korea also reports limited ocean space to Southeast Asia.
· Long-haul conditions are changing as Suez services return. The report estimates that 63% of Far East-Europe capacity is back via Suez, with a full return expected by the first quarter of 2027. Carriers lifted Asia-North Europe rates by 6% week over week through general rate increases after a 12-week decline, but returning capacity could put renewed pressure on pricing.
· Conditions vary by origin. Thailand faces ocean backlogs, and U.S.-bound space from Vietnam is tight, with cancelled sailings increasing the risk of cargo moving on a later vessel. Singapore and India report soft ocean capacity and stable rates across their major lanes, although Singapore still faces vessel delays of three to five days from congestion and port omissions.
· China-U.S. airfreight rates are expected to ease from their recent peak as e-commerce platforms control volumes, with more relief into New York and Chicago than Los Angeles. AI server racks, electronics and Christmas replenishment continue to support demand, while winter flight schedules reduce cargo space on passenger aircraft.
· Taiwan-U.S. air capacity remains extremely tight as AI chip and server exports overlap with Black Friday and Christmas demand. Vietnam’s U.S.-bound lanes and intra-Asia services from Kuala Lumpur and Penang are at backlog levels. In North America, Asia-bound airfreight also faces backlogs at Los Angeles, Chicago and Toronto.
· Expect rates to “settle high rather than drop,” with Christmas stocking and fuel costs capable of lifting quieter European lanes.
