Freightos Weekly Update: Union approves LA/Long Beach port strike; container rates still under pressure

The container carrier march back through the Red Sea continues, with Alphaliner estimating nearly two-thirds of total Asia – Europe capacity is now restored. Especially of note is Israeli carrier ZIM’s announcement that it has resumed taking the Red Sea route for its joint Asia – US East Coast service with MSC, as the Houthis declared the Bab el-Mandeb Strait closed to Israel-linked vessels as recently as August. Another typhoon rumbled through the Far East starting last week. Typhoon Champi closed container ports and airports in Taiwan on Friday, and threatened but mostly spared operations at East China ports before weakening as it continued on toward Japan. The major Chinese container hubs continue their recovery from previous storm disruptions over the summer though most are still not completely back to normal.