The Shanghai Shipping Exchange published the latest SCFI (Shanghai Containerized Freight Index) on Friday, October 30: the composite stood at 3,712.34 points, up 31.0 points (+0.84%) from October 23's 3,681.34 — a fourth straight weekly gain (source: SSE, as carried by China Shipping Gazette and multiple industry bulletins on October 30). The market keeps its "soft Europe, firm US, mixed near-sea" pattern: the Europe lane slid 3.0% to 2,089.50 points, US West Coast held at USD 7,588/FEU (+0.84%), US East Coast tightened at USD 10,520/FEU (+1.10%), and the Gulf lane stayed high at USD 4,670/TEU on Hormuz tensions (all port-to-port spot reference rates).
On the Japan lane, the official lane-level USD page for the October 30 release had not yet been synced at press time; the latest available figures are from October 23 — Kansai USD 326/TEU (down 2) and Kanto USD 335/TEU (up 4) (reference rates; please check the SSE website for the newest print). Industry monitoring shows the lane has kept trading inside a narrow 326-340 USD/TEU band for a month, among the lowest-priced tiers in the network. The CCFI composite printed 1,935.10 points on October 30 (+0.65%, per SSE data carried by industry bulletins); in the prior October 23 release the CCFI Japan lane index rose 2.5% against the market to 1,063.23 — a sign of resilient near-sea demand to Japan.
For contrast on deep-sea lanes: Drewry's October 29 WCI assessment fell 3% week over week to USD 4,429/FEU, with Shanghai-Los Angeles at USD 7,514 (-6%) and Shanghai-New York at USD 9,631 (-5%), while Asia-Europe held firmer (Shanghai-Rotterdam USD 3,686, +1%). With the Suez return accelerating — 982 transits in October and weekly transit capacity back to roughly 52% of pre-Red Sea-crisis levels (Clarksons) — deep-sea capacity keeps loosening and rates keep sliding from highs. The short China-Japan lane, by contrast, sees far smaller swings in both rates and space.
The Japan lane's "off-season that isn't" still has support: year-end/New Year stocking is entering its final window, and Japan's logistics "2026 problem" labor shortage means the supply chain largely halts December 29 to January 3 — so the booking window for December sailings is concentrated in late October and November. For mid-to-late November arrivals, book 7-10 days ahead, and verify PSS/BAF surcharge terms and quote validity on every shipment; comparing FCL vs LCL and fast vs regular sailings per shipment remains worthwhile.
We offer one-stop service from anywhere in China to Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka and other major Japanese ports: ocean FCL/LCL, air freight, two-side customs clearance and door delivery. Check published rates via the rate calculator (https://www.4006519886.cn/smart-oa/price.php), track shipments (https://www.4006519886.cn/smart-oa/track.php), use online consultation — or click sales@ruixincargo.com to send your cargo details directly.