June 2026 Press Release

H1 2026: Global Volumes Continue to Defy Expectations Despite Market Challenges

Global Volumes: A Resilient First Half of 2026

As we reach the halfway point of 2026, the global container market has once again demonstrated remarkable resilience. Despite geopolitical tensions and ongoing economic uncertainty, global liftings for the first six months of the year reached 98.4 million TEUs, representing a 5.2% increase compared with H1 2025 and a 9.8% increase compared with H1 2024.

Global volumes softened by a modest 1.7% in June. However, June is a 30-day month compared with May's 31 days. On a daily basis, June was actually stronger, averaging approximately 570,000 TEUs per day versus 561,000 TEUs in May, indicating that underlying demand remained robust despite the slight monthly decline.

Global Price Index: Freight Rates Continue to Respond

In June 2026, the Global Price Index increased by a further 13 points to 108. Since the beginning of the year, the index has risen by 30 points, illustrating the impact of the Middle East Crisis and wider challenges affecting the global shipping market.(Demand pressure in Far East).

The largest increases were recorded on the major Far East trade lanes, with both Far East to North America and Far East to Europe rising by more than 20 points month on month. These movements highlight where market disruption is being felt most acutely, despite relatively stable global volumes.

Global Exports: Far East Continues to Lead

All regions recorded year-to-date export growth compared with H1 2025, with the exception of Europe and, unsurprisingly, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East.

The Far East once again led the market, recording both the largest increase in absolute TEUs and the strongest growth among the major exporting regions. Exports increased by 9%, equating to approximately 5 million additional TEUs, further reinforcing the region's importance to global container trade.

Every import region receiving cargo from the Far East recorded healthy growth during H1 2026. Sub-Saharan Africa experienced the strongest increase, with imports from the Far East rising by almost 30%. Even the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East, despite the disruption caused by the Gulf Crisis, still recorded a modest 2% increase in cargo originating from the Far East.

At a regional level, however, the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East experienced an overall 8% decline in exports, with the downturn beginning in March following the onset of the crisis. Interestingly, South & Central America was the only destination region to record growth from the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East during H1, increasing by 4% compared with the same period in 2025.

Global Imports: Emerging Markets Continue to Strengthen

All regions other than the Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East recording year-to-date import growth despite continued economic uncertainty.

North America returned to modest growth during the first half of 2026, with imports increasing by 1% compared with H1 2025. This improvement was primarily driven by a 4% increase in Far East to North America volumes. However, it is worth noting that this recovery only began to emerge from May 2026 onwards.

Sub-Saharan Africa once again delivered the strongest import performance, recording 15% growth during the first half of the year. This expansion was supported by increased cargo flows from the Far East, Europe, and North America. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa has recorded double-digit year-to-date growth every month so far in 2026, building on an already exceptional performance throughout 2025.

Looking Ahead to H2 2026

As we reach the halfway point of the year, the container shipping market has once again shown remarkable resilience in the face of significant geopolitical and economic disruption.

Global volumes are now 18% higher than H1 2023, equating to an average annual growth rate of approximately 6% over the past three years. Furthermore, the Middle East Crisis has reduced global volume growth by around 2%, underlining the strength of demand that continues to support the market.

As we enter the second half of 2026, attention will increasingly turn towards the Global Price Index. In June 2025, the index stood at 86 points, meaning it has risen by more than 25% over the past twelve months.

As demonstrated during previous periods of disruption, freight pricing often reflects changing market conditions more quickly than volume data. While global liftings continue to remain resilient, the Global Price Index may provide one of the clearest indicators of how the market responds as geopolitical events continue to unfold.