Cancelled Sailings Tracker - 17 Jul

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Source: Container Capacity Insight

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Weekly analysis: 17 Jul 2026

The market has started showing signs of revival, but disruption has completely faded away

Across the major East–West trades, 39 blank sailings are expected over the next five weeks, from week 30 (20–26 July) to week 34 (17–23 August), representing a 5% cancellation rate, with 95% of scheduled sailings still likely to operate. Most disruptions remain concentrated on the Transpacific eastbound trade (51%), followed by Asia–North Europe/Med (31%), while the Transatlantic (18%) remains comparatively unaffected. Gemini Cooperation continues to demonstrate the strongest schedule reliability among the major alliances.

After 10 consecutive weeks of increases, Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) fell 2% WoW to $4,547 per 40ft container, marking the first decline since May, although rates remain 75% higher than a year ago. Improving supply conditions are beginning to rebalance the market, with blank sailings expected to shrink from 54 in June to 42 in July and 36 in August, while effective capacity continues to increase as carriers restore services and deploy additional tonnage.

However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, weather-related disruption in North Asia and congestion across parts of Europe continue to create pockets of operational pressure. Drewry expects rates to stabilise in August, with a modest 2% decline forecast, although carrier pricing actions and peak season demand developments will remain key market drivers in the weeks ahead.

For shippers, improving capacity conditions should gradually ease space constraints, although congestion, geopolitical risks and carrier capacity management are likely to keep market conditions volatile through the remainder of the peak season.