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Supply Chain Advisors
Cancelled Sailings Tracker - 23 Jan
Our weekly Cancelled Sailings Tracker provides a snapshot of blank sailings announced by each Alliance versus the total number of scheduled sailings.
Should you require more detailed weekly assessments and analysis of cancelled sailings and schedules by main trade and alliance, you may be interested in subscribing to Container Capacity Insight. This service includes effective capacity, port congestion, dwell time, utilisation and service reliability insights with year-on-year comparisons. Contact us to request an evaluation report.
Source: Container Capacity Insight
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Weekly analysis: 23 Jan 2026
The container market entered the year with growing uncertainty. Early expectations of a seasonal uplift ahead of the Lunar New Year have faded, as demand remains uneven and conditions across the main East–West trades continue to adjust.
Pricing is already reflecting this shift. Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) fell 10% week on week to $2,212 per 40ft container as of 22 January, signalling softer conditions across major lanes. Transpacific rates declined 11%, Asia–Europe/Med lanes fell 9% and Transatlantic rates eased a further 4%.
At the same time, carriers are intensifying capacity management efforts. Over the next five weeks—weeks 5 (26 January–1 February) to 9 (23 February–1 March)—109 blank sailings have been announced out of around 703 scheduled departures, equivalent to 16% of planned sailings. Cancellations are concentrated on the Transpacific eastbound (58%), followed by Asia–Europe/Med (32%) and the Transatlantic westbound (10%), even as 86% of sailings remain on schedule. February cancellations have risen sharply, with 107 blank sailings now planned, marking a 38% increase from last week.
Meanwhile, easing Asia-origin rates, pressure on Transatlantic pricing and stop-start decisions on Red Sea routings are adding to market complexity, reinforcing the sense that balance remains elusive for both carriers and cargo owners.
For shippers, caution is warranted. Rate softness may continue, but with routing and capacity still in flux, prioritising clarity on Suez routing, service reliability and flexible planning will be more valuable than chasing short-term savings.
Solutions for shippers...
If you’re an international shipper/BCO and would like to learn more about the targeted support and advice we can give to service provider contracts, budgeting and tender preparations this year, contact our team of ocean freight procurement and cost benchmarking experts at supplychains@drewry.co.uk.
Solutions for shippers/BCOs
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