International Shipping Trends - January 27, 2026 - Blank Sailings Reach 16% Next 5 Weeks

Global container shipping faces significant headwinds as blank sailings reach 16% over the next five weeks, with 109 cancellations out of 703 scheduled voyages—58% concentrated on Trans-Pacific eastbound routes. Concurrently, the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) has dropped 10% to $2,212 per FEU, reflecting weakened demand. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) also fell for a third consecutive week, declining 7.39%, with rates on all major trade lanes, including an 8.5% drop to the U.S. East Coast, showing broad-based softening. Analysts project limited rate recovery before late February. In contrast, Ningbo Port demonstrates resilient operational performance, reporting a 7.55% year-on-year revenue increase to ¥31.06 billion for 2025, alongside a 5.61% rise in net profit, signaling steady growth in port profitability despite the volatile freight market.