What changed in the latest blank-sailing outlook?
The operational backdrop improved further in Drewry's latest weekly read. Schedules are stabilizing, the Strait of Hormuz is gradually reopening, and 97% of scheduled sailings are still expected to operate across weeks 27-31. The main concentration of disruption remains on the Transpacific eastbound trade rather than across all major lanes.
| Metric | Latest reading |
|---|---|
| Tracker date | June 26, 2026 |
| Blank sailings expected | 24 |
| Coverage window | Weeks 27-31 (June 29-August 2) |
| Cancellation rate | 3% |
| Scheduled sailings expected to operate | 97% |
| Share of disruptions on Transpacific eastbound | 63% |
- Asia-Europe/Med accounts for 29% of the disruptions in Drewry's five-week outlook.
- Transatlantic accounts for 8%, meaning the disruption pattern remains heavily skewed toward the Pacific.
- Drewry also says Gemini Cooperation and MSC continue to show strong schedule adherence.
Why are rates still rising if cancellations are low?
Because the market is no longer being supported mainly by withdrawn capacity. Drewry says strong cargo demand, frontloading activity, and tight vessel availability are still holding the market firm even as schedules improve. In the same weekly update, Drewry notes its World Container Index rose 5% week over week to $4,166 per 40ft container as of June 25, with transpacific rates up 8%.
What Shippers Should Do
- Do not assume fewer blank sailings means immediate rate relief on Asia-US lanes.
- Track vessel space and booking lead times separately from the blank-sailing headline, because both can stay tight even when cancellations fall.
- Model the transpacific eastbound lane as the main remaining disruption pocket, not the broader market as a whole.
- Re-price July bookings weekly rather than monthly while frontloading demand is still active.