SPOT rates from Asia to the US west coast soared 12.5 per cent last week to US$2,658 per FEU, while rates to the US east coast rose 8.6 per cent to $3,774 per FEU, according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI).
Last week`s increase represents roughly half of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement`s proposed $600 per FEU peak season surcharge, slated to commence June 10.
The news was not as good on the Europe and Mediterranean-bound trades as rates there continued to soften.
Asia-Europe rates last week slid a further 1.9 per cent to $1,634 per TEU, while Asia-Mediterranean rates contracted 1.6 per cent to $1,783 per TEU.
Across all trades covered by the index the SCFI rose two per cent to 1,414.72 points.