During the first weeks of June, China’s major ports, such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen and Qingdao, faced serious congestion caused by a shortage of empty equipment, particularly containers. This situation generated a domino effect that affected the availability of space for exports and imports, steadily raising ocean freight rates, which in some cases exceeded USD 6,000 per container for shipments scheduled in July. For Ecuadorian importers, this meant higher costs, logistical delays and increasing difficulties in securing space, especially in industries dependent on inputs, machinery or finished products from Asia. Ecuadorian exporters to Asian markets were also constrained by the shortage of empty containers for return shipments, with impacts on shipping times and the profitability of operations.

However, after weeks of high operational and commercial pressure, the market has made a slight but significant turnaround. In recent days, there has been a temporary drop in freight rates from China, attributed to capacity adjustments by shipping lines, the release of space from previous overbookings and the seasonal drop in demand following the Chinese New Year. This combination of factors has generated a greater availability of space in the ports of origin, which represents an opportunity for Ecuador’s foreign trade players.

The current conditions offer a respite and a window of tactical action for importers and exporters, who can take advantage of this relief phase to advance strategic shipments, optimize logistics costs and renegotiate tariffs in a momentarily more favorable environment. However, the context continues to be volatile and the proximity of the peak export season from Asia suggests a possible reversal in prices and space availability in the coming weeks. Faced with this scenario, it is key to act with anticipation and planning. Decisions made now can make a significant difference in terms of costs, delivery performance and competitiveness in the coming months. Recent experience confirms that, in international trade, reading the market rhythm and adapting in time is no longer an advantage: it is a necessity. Decisions made now can make a significant difference in terms of costs, delivery performance and competitiveness in the months ahead. Recent experience confirms that, in international trade, reading the market rhythm and adapting in time is no longer an advantage: it is a strategic necessity.