Ocean Freight Rates During the 90-Day Tariff Pause
The 90-day tariff reprieve between the U.S. and China was meant to offer some breathing room for importers—but it’s had a different effect on ocean freight. Instead of easing the pressure, transpacific shipping rates have continued to climb, and all signs point to more increases ahead.
Here’s what’s driving the spike—and what businesses need to know to stay ahead.
Rates Are Rising—Again
Despite the temporary pause in tariff hikes, freight carriers aren’t holding back on price increases. A General Rate Increase (GRI) was already pushed through earlier this month, and with capacity still tight and demand rising fast, more GRIs are expected to follow—likely on both June 1st and June 15th.
This is a classic supply-demand squeeze: rates are surging not because of tariffs directly, but because of the shipment volume they’ve triggered.
Tariff Pause = Booking Surge
When the tariff pause was announced, importers jumped into action. According to industry reports from The Loadstar, as many as 800,000 loaded containers were waiting to sail at the time the news broke. That backlog created an intense wave of demand—and it hasn’t slowed.
At Proboxx, we’ve seen the same trend: customers are front-loading inventory to avoid being caught off-guard if tariffs return in full force after August 14. The result? A race for space on vessels that were already operating below full capacity following earlier trade war-related service reductions.
Carriers Scramble to Catch Up
In response to the booking surge, ocean carriers are scrambling to reactivate services that had been withdrawn during quieter months. Some of these were pulled back as recently as April and May.
One major move to note: The Gemini Cooperation announced a new transpacific route linking East China and North-east Asia to Long Beach, California. This new service is scheduled to begin at the end of June and is expected to offer some relief—but short-term congestion issues are far from over.
Port Congestion Still a Major Factor
Even with extra sailings coming online, port congestion in China remains a critical bottleneck. Delays are being reported across multiple export terminals, especially in Shanghai and Ningbo, with ripple effects extending across the entire supply chain.
At the same time, tight space and equipment shortages mean many importers are now paying premium rates just to secure container bookings. The market is behaving more like peak season than a tariff pause—and it’s only June.
What Businesses Should Be Doing Now
If you’re importing goods from Asia to the U.S., now’s the time to review your shipping plans:
- Secure bookings early. Waiting could mean paying significantly more—or missing critical deadlines.
- Factor in GRIs when calculating landed costs and adjusting pricing.
- Talk to your freight partners (like Proboxx) about capacity forecasts and service alternatives.
The 90-day pause may have delayed tariffs, but it hasn’t paused the pressure on global shipping. In fact, the opposite has happened.
📦 Need help navigating high freight costs and planning for Q3?
Get in touch with Proboxx today to optimize your bookings, manage costs, and keep your supply chain moving—no matter what the next headline brings.