China Shipping Market Update September 2026
September has brought a clear split in freight rates from China. Transpacific and Intra-Asia rates have moved higher, while rates to North Europe and the Mediterranean have declined.
For importers, September is less about one broad market direction than route-by-route planning. Booking windows, destination requirements and shipment-specific surcharges should be checked together, particularly for cargo moving before China’s National Day holiday.
This Month’s Five Key Developments at a Glance
The FDA’s 2026 food facility registration renewal period opens on 1 October.
Indonesia will extend mandatory halal certification to more product categories and imported goods from 18 October.
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation has introduced new checks for goods entering the European market.
Golden Week blank sailings are reducing capacity on Transpacific and Asia–Europe services.
New piracy risk and Suez Canal surcharges will apply to selected Asia services from 15 September.
FDA Food Facility Registration Renewal Opens on 1 October
The US Food and Drug Administration will open its 2026 Food Facility Registration renewal period on 1 October 2026. The renewal window closes on 31 December.
The requirement covers domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold human or animal food for consumption in the USA. Chinese facilities covered by the registration requirement must renew during this period, even if they registered or updated their information earlier in 2026.
Renewal period: 1 October to 31 December 2026
Facilities covered: Food manufacturing, processing, packing and holding facilities
Registration identifier: An FDA-accepted Unique Facility Identifier, currently a DUNS number
Updating an existing registration does not count as completing the biennial renewal. If a facility does not renew by the deadline, FDA will consider the registration expired and remove it from the facility’s account.
Facility registration is also separate from shipment-level filings. An active registration does not replace FDA Prior Notice for food imports from China, which normally applies to each imported food article.
For September shipments, an active registration remains valid. The October opening date mainly affects facilities preparing food shipments that will continue into late 2026 and 2027.
Indonesia Expands Mandatory Halal Certification in October
Indonesia will begin the next stage of its mandatory halal certification programme on 18 October 2026. BPJPH has confirmed that the expansion includes foreign products entering and circulating in Indonesia.
The affected categories extend beyond finished food and beverages:
Food products: Food, beverages, food ingredients, additives and processing aids
Cosmetics: Finished cosmetics and covered personal care products
Chemical products: Specified chemical and genetically engineered product categories
Health products: Traditional medicines, quasi-drugs and health supplements
Consumer goods: Selected household products, clothing, accessories and Class A medical devices
The inclusion of chemical products does not mean that every industrial chemical requires halal certification. The product’s ingredients, intended use and classification in Indonesia determine whether the requirement applies.
Foreign products may use halal certificates issued by recognised foreign halal institutions. Those certificates still follow BPJPH recognition and registration requirements before the goods circulate in Indonesia.
The policy can also affect packaging, storage and distribution when these activities influence halal integrity. September cargo expected to enter Indonesia after 18 October needs to be checked against the new product coverage and the importer’s certification arrangement.
EU Packaging Regulation Adds New Import Checks
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste started to apply on 12 August 2026. It covers packaging placed on the EU market, including packaging manufactured outside the European Union.
The regulation addresses packaging composition, restricted substances, recyclability, labelling, reuse and producer responsibility. However, the requirements do not all begin on the same date.
Requirements already relevant in September include:
The general application of the new PPWR framework
PFAS limits for food-contact packaging
Greater attention to packaging composition and supporting information
Requirements with later implementation dates include:
Several harmonised labelling provisions
Some recyclability performance criteria
Reuse and recycled-content targets
Further producer responsibility measures
For general goods, EU importers may request more information about packaging materials, composition and weight from Chinese suppliers. Retail, e-commerce and transport packaging can all fall within the regulation.
Dangerous goods packaging remains subject to separate transport requirements. PPWR compliance does not replace UN packaging approval or the marking and documentation requirements under IMDG, ADR or IATA provisions.
Golden Week Blank Sailings Reduce Available Capacity
China’s Mid-Autumn Festival runs from 25 to 27 September, followed by the National Day holiday from 1 to 7 October. Only three working days separate the two holiday periods.
Factories, warehouses and trucking companies may operate with reduced staffing around these dates. Carriers are also adjusting their schedules to match the expected fall in factory output during Golden Week.
The main capacity figures for the period are:
47 blank sailings: Announced across the main East–West trades during weeks 37 to 41
6% cancellation rate: Based on 729 planned sailings
94% still operating: Most scheduled sailings remain available despite the cancellations
The cancellations are concentrated on Transpacific eastbound and Asia–Europe services. MSC has separately announced four blank sailings on its Asia–Europe network during weeks 39 to 41.
The main pressure is likely to appear before the holidays. Cargo completed in the second half of September will compete for the remaining pre-holiday sailings. Shipments missing a cut-off may move after the National Day break.
A vessel or voyage change can also affect cargo that requires carrier approval. Dangerous goods may need renewed acceptance, while reefer cargo can face tighter plug availability if containers remain at the terminal for longer.
New Suez Surcharges Affect Selected Asia Services
More container services are returning to the Suez Canal, but carriers are not restoring every service at the same pace. Some sailings continue to use the Cape of Good Hope, while others have resumed Suez transits under revised security arrangements.
From 15 September 2026, MSC will introduce two charges for shipments from Asia to selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea destinations.
The listed destinations include ports in Egypt, Türkiye, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. These charges apply to the announced MSC trade scope rather than every shipment travelling from China through the Middle East.
The charges should not be added automatically to a Shanghai–Jebel Ali rate. Gulf services follow separate carrier pricing and surcharge structures.
A wider return to Suez could shorten sailing distances and release effective capacity on Asia–Europe services. Security conditions, port rotations and individual carrier decisions can still affect the final route.
Regional Freight Rate Snapshot for September 2026
Drewry’s World Container Index remained stable at USD 4,465 per 40ft container on 3 September. The global figure concealed a clear regional difference: Transpacific rates increased, Asia–Europe rates declined and Intra-Asia rates continued to rise.
China to USA
Transpacific rates moved higher in early September. Shanghai–Los Angeles reached USD 7,185 per 40ft container, while Shanghai–New York reached USD 9,587. Both routes were about 22% above their early-August benchmarks.
Capacity management remains one of the main reasons for the increase. Transpacific eastbound services account for 68% of the blank sailings announced across the main East–West trades for weeks 37 to 41. Continued demand and congestion at major Asian ports have added further support.
The early-September increase does not establish the direction for the whole fourth quarter. Capacity and demand may change again after Golden Week, particularly once factories resume normal production.
China to Europe
Rates to Europe moved in the opposite direction. Shanghai–Rotterdam fell to USD 4,092 per 40ft container, around 12% below early August. Shanghai–Genoa dropped by about 21% to USD 4,368.
Softer demand and an expected increase in available capacity have placed pressure on both routes. More services returning to the Suez Canal could release further capacity by shortening voyage distances.
Maersk also removed its Peak Season Surcharge for shipments from Far East Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean from the price calculation date of 1 September. The change covers the equipment types listed in the carrier announcement, although other local and contingency charges can still apply.
North Europe and Mediterranean rates may continue to follow different patterns. Selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea destinations also face new MSC piracy risk and Suez Canal charges from 15 September.
China to Southeast Asia
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index rose for a fifth consecutive week, reaching USD 1,312 per 40ft container on 3 September. The index increased by 9% during the week and by about 35% compared with early August.
Shanghai–Laem Chabang recorded a much larger change. The rate reached USD 1,310 per 40ft container, almost 91% above the early-August benchmark.
Typhoon-related disruption reduced available capacity across several Asian routes. Shanghai and Ningbo closed between 26 and 28 August, while delays also affected transhipment hubs including Busan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Laem Chabang increase reflects conditions on that specific route. Rates to Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines may move differently according to feeder capacity, congestion and transhipment arrangements.
China to Middle East
Shanghai–Jebel Ali reached USD 8,254 per 40ft container in early September. This was approximately 15.6% above the early-August benchmark.
Middle East tensions, fuel costs and congestion across regional services continue to support prices. Delays at major Asian load ports and transhipment hubs have also reduced available capacity.
The Jebel Ali figure represents a market benchmark rather than a complete quotation. Security, fuel and destination-related surcharges differ by carrier and cargo type.
The MSC piracy risk and Suez Canal charges announced for September apply to selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea ports. They do not automatically apply to Jebel Ali or other Gulf destinations.
Planning a September Shipment From China
Gerudo Logistics provides shipment-specific routing and freight quotations based on cargo type, destination, cargo-ready date, carrier acceptance and current sailing schedules.
Support is also available for food, chemical, dangerous goods and temperature-controlled cargo that requires additional document or carrier review before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does My September Food Shipment From China Need a Renewed FDA Registration?
A shipment moving in September can use the facility’s current registration if it remains active. The 2026 renewal window opens on 1 October, and covered facilities must renew by 31 December.
Does My Indonesia Shipment Need Halal Certification If It Leaves China Before 18 October?
The departure date alone does not determine the requirement. If a covered product will enter or circulate in Indonesia after 18 October, the importer needs to confirm its halal certificate and BPJPH registration status before shipment.
Do All Chemical Products Shipped to Indonesia Need Halal Certification?
No. The requirement applies to covered chemical product categories rather than every industrial chemical. Ingredients, intended use and the Indonesian product classification determine whether it applies.
Does PPWR Apply to Goods Shipped From China to Europe in September 2026?
PPWR applies to packaging placed on the EU market, including packaging manufactured outside the EU. The specific requirements depend on the packaging type and the implementation date of each provision.
Could My Dangerous Goods Booking Change After a Golden Week Blank Sailing?
Yes. If the carrier transfers the cargo to another vessel or voyage, it may need to revise or reconfirm the dangerous goods acceptance. The underlying classification and packaging requirements remain unchanged.
Do MSC’s September Suez Surcharges Apply to My Jebel Ali Shipment?
Not automatically. The announcement covers selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea destinations. Jebel Ali and other Gulf services follow separate carrier surcharge structures.
