Container shipping fuel prices remain elevated as supply fears ease

When bunker prices more than double, the cost shows up in bunker adjustment factors before it shows up in base ocean rates. A fixed base rate offers little protection if the surcharge resets quarterly, and as ocean unit costs climb, the gap between sea freight and Sea & Air or express narrows. Review how your contract defines surcharge adjustment and how often it is applied. Rather than committing all peak-season volume to a single ocean routing, price out a portion via transshipment or air now so you can compare cost and transit time side by side.