Economy

Reports of Rising Hormuz Freight Rates: Actual Cargo Impacts Must Be Verified by Route and Voyage

Reports say freight rates may take time to normalize even after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, and cite a rise in the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI). However, those figures and global port congestion data alone are not enough to establish the direct effects of the Middle East conflict or determine the shipping costs and delays for individual cargoes.

October 23, 2026

Understand it in 30 seconds

What happened?

Reports said that freight rates may take time to normalize even after passage through the Strait of Hormuz resumes, and that the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index has risen.

What changed?

Vessels have begun passing through again, but waiting costs and delayed schedules remain, so the resumption of passage does not mean a return to normal operations.

Why does this matter to me?

Shippers cannot determine the freight rate or arrival date for their own cargo from a market index alone, so they should check the terms of their booked voyage.

A Time Lag Between the Resumption of Transit and Freight Rate Stabilization

There Is a Lag Between the Resumption of Hormuz Transit and Freight Rate Stabilization

How could this affect us?

See how this story could change everyday life.

01
Risk costs remain in freight rates
Insurance premiums for high-risk waters and vessel waiting costs continue to be reflected in freight rates, so transportation costs may not fall immediately just because passage has resumed.
02
Possible delays to operating schedules
Waiting and delays may disrupt vessel schedules, which could also affect cargo arrival dates.
03
Ports may become more congested in the short term
If vessels that were in high-risk waters move all at once, their port arrival schedules may overlap, increasing congestion at major ports.

How does this change affect logistics?

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