Sea Freight Capacity Crunch Looms from Asia to US

A wave of blank sailings is set to severely disrupt container traffic from Asia to the US East Coast, slashing available capacity by as much as 42% in early May.

The container shipping lines are reacting swiftly to plummeting demand, driven in part by continued volatility stemming from US-China trade tensions and erratic booking patterns.

The heaviest impact will hit during the week of 5–11 May, with nine service cancellations stripping out nearly half of the usual capacity on Asia–USEC routes.

This unprecedented reduction mirrors the kind of seasonal slowdown typically seen during Chinese New Year or Golden Week, but with little advance notice for shippers scrambling to secure space.

On the transpacific trade to the US West Coast, similar patterns are emerging. The week of 28 April is expected to see 10 blank sailings, wiping out 28% of weekly capacity. A repeat is forecast for mid-May, underscoring the scale of the adjustment now underway.

Although full data on booking cancellations has yet to catch up, estimates from China suggest 30% to 60% of shipments may have been called off. Analysts say the spike in blank sailings offers a near real-time reflection of the deteriorating demand, with carriers now forecasting volume drops of up to 42% on some eastbound lanes.

Drewry’s latest Blank Sailings Tracker has recorded 72 cancellations across key east-west trades through the end of May, with the majority concentrated on the transpacific. The consultancy warns that further blank sailings are likely, and that ships departing Asia could be sailing underutilised well into the coming weeks.

Amid rising uncertainty around tariffs and shifting cost pressures, many cargo owners are opting to delay or cancel shipments altogether, resulting in a turbulent container market, with capacity reductions cascading across major ocean freight corridors.

We understand the pressures global supply chains are under and can help you navigate rate volatility with confidence and control.

Whether you’re managing critical shipments, looking for alternative routings or planning ahead for the year, our tailored sea freight solutions provide the certainty you need to stay ahead.

To discover how PSP Worldwide Logistics can strengthen your ocean supply chain and provide peace of mind, EMAIL our Managing Director, Colin Redman, today.