Charter and freight markets began the inaugural full week of 2026 on an upward trend with crude tankers leading rate increases, along with container trades such as Top Ships' Eco Oceano time charter rate being raised sharply; Red Sea disruption and pre Lunar New Year cargo demand drove up spot freight rates on mainline Asia to US routes leading to higher spot freight rates overall.
At the close of 2025, the containership charter market demonstrated remarkable resilience despite freight market headwinds, with one-year time charter rates remaining steady or slightly up across feeder, midsize, and large vessel segments despite freight market headwinds. MSI reports highlight tight supply conditions as a reason for rate stability; however, 2026 deliveries could potentially decrease prices further. Multipurpose rates also showed modest gains throughout 2025 until December.
At the close of 2025, the containership charter market showed resilience despite freight market challenges; one-year time charter rates across feeder, midsize and large vessel segments remained stable across one-year time charter rates across feeder, midsize and large vessel segments despite freight market challenges. According to MSI reports on tight supply conditions boosting rates; 2026 deliveries may put downward pressure on them though multipurpose rates had slight gains according to Toepfer Transport.
Cape-size vessel time charter averages have soared this year to $44,700 daily as of December 3, according to MID-SHIP Group. Panamax and dry bulk have shown a steady uptick through the week ending December 10 propelling to new highs on weekly levels. Strong values were registered in the previous week ending. Compass Maritime data validated these increases in time charter rates on several key categories.
Atlantic LNG spot charter rates jumped sharply from mid to late November as winter fundamentals continued to tighten, crossing above $110,000 per day. A further hike was seen as a result of growing US LNG exports, increasing floating storage costs, seasonal demand growth and shipowners moving Pacific vessels to take advantage of tightening spreads between basins.
LNG charter rates crossed $100,000/day for the first time since early 2024 in mid-November on the back of increased supply, greater need for floating storage capacity and seasonal winter demand. Container ship charter rates continued to fall across most sizes of vessel at this time.