Container Shipping to Europe Futures Rise Over 3% as Spot Rates Stabilize; Bullish Sentiment Strengthens on May 18

According to Haitong Futures, container shipping rates to Europe futures rose over 3% on May 18, with spot rates showing stability and bullish market sentiment continuing to strengthen. Maersk’s announcement of 22-week port calls exceeding expectations and shipping lines’ declaration of rate increases for June have signaled strong bullish momentum. The spot market is entering an uptrend cycle, with rates expected to remain elevated through May to July. Current spot rates for large containers are around $2,880 at the end of May, with shipping lines forecasting increases to $3,800-$4,700 in June.