International Shipping Freight Rates and Blank Sailing Update for Week 40 of 2026
From September 28 to October 4, the Drewry Global Container Index fell 0.76%, while spot rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast rose 0.74%; blank sailings were expected to account for about 8% in October.
What are the key facts?
- 1Drewry Global Container Index fell 0.76% to $4,434 per FEU
- 2Spot rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast rose 0.74% to $8,278 per FEU
- 3Carriers expected blank sailings to account for about 8% during the week of October 5
- 4Another round of general rate increases may be implemented on October 19
What happened?
Phaata’s international shipping update for Week 40 of 2026 showed that the Drewry Global Container Index fell 0.76% from September 28 to October 4, reaching $4,434 per FEU. However, spot rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast rose 0.74% to $8,278 per FEU, up 10.65% from one month earlier and remaining at a relatively high level since mid-2022.
Carriers expected blank sailings to account for about 8% during the week of October 5, mainly to address potential cargo-volume fluctuations during China’s National Day and Golden Week holidays. In addition, another round of general rate increases may be implemented on October 19.
These changes directly affect sellers of furniture, home goods, small appliances, apparel, and low-value products shipping from China and Southeast Asia to the United States, especially those relying on full-container shipping or overseas-warehouse replenishment. The original report also said that sellers should recalculate inbound costs for FBA, WFS, and third-party overseas warehouses, and reserve alternative ports and rail and trucking options for potential capacity shortages in mid-to-late October.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Spot rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast rose to $8,278 per FEU, while blank sailings were expected to account for about 8% during the week of October 5, creating cost and delivery-schedule volatility for sellers relying on full-container shipping and overseas-warehouse replenishment. Another round of general rate increases may be implemented on October 19, so sellers should review FBA, WFS, and third-party overseas-warehouse replenishment plans in advance.
What should sellers do now?
- 1This week, recalculate inbound costs for furniture, home goods, and small appliances on the U.S. site using a profit calculator. Record the $4,434-per-FEU and $8,278-per-FEU freight-rate scenarios and produce a gross-margin comparison table.Profit calculator
- 2This week, mark replenishment priorities for apparel, low-value products, and home-goods listings on the U.S. site, incorporate the impact of about 8% blank sailings during the week of October 5, and complete a phased inventory and stockout-risk list.Procurement List
- 3This week, review prices for low-value products on the U.S. site using a break-even calculator. Use a potential October 19 general rate increase and the $8,278-per-FEU freight rate as scenarios, and produce a list of listings requiring price increases or replenishment pauses.Breakeven calculator