Blanked Sailings Increase As Carriers Manage Asia-Europe Capacity
Ocean freight carriers operating on the Asia-Europe trade lanes are beginning to tighten container capacity ahead of the upcoming peak season, adopting a more assertive approach to blank sailings.
While the number of planned blank sailings for June and July currently remains broadly in line with seasonal trends seen in previous years, the industry is now experiencing a noticeable increase in late-stage and last-minute cancellations. Reports indicate that blank sailings during April were almost 40% higher than during the same period in 2025, creating additional uncertainty for shippers managing inventory movements.
According to a report in The Loadstar, tighter control of available vessel space is already contributing to rising spot freight rates and an increase in rolled cargo at Asian export hubs. Reduced space availability is said to be specifically linked to blank sailing programmes introduced by alliance carriers.
Broader geopolitical factors are also continuing to influence market conditions. Ongoing instability in the Middle East is affecting vessel deployment, with some vessels still restricted around Gulf routes. Combined with increasingly disciplined capacity management, some carriers believe the market may be approaching an early peak season.
Traditionally, Asia-Europe peak season activity begins in late June and runs through to China’s Golden Week in early October. However, ongoing global disruptions have made seasonal patterns increasingly unpredictable, and last year’s peak season never fully materialised.
The Killick Martin trade teams are continuing to monitor developments closely. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
