Shippers rush to reach US shores amid tariff pause

To monitor how supply chains reshuffle; freight rates up for 2nd week in a row

- DHRUVAKSH SAHA

After US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day tariff pause for several nations, including India, global manufacturers are in a rush to ensure that bulk of their goods reach the US during this window.

"The 90-day suspension of tariffs will be welcomed by shippers, but it should not be a cause for celebration. We still have a rapidly escalating US-China trade war with tariffs spiralling above 100 per cent," said Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, an Oslo-based maritime analytics firm.

After falling continuously for four months, freight rates across eight global sea routes increased for the second week in a row since reciprocal tariffs were enforced and then rescinded temporarily.

The Drewry World Container Index rose 3 per cent last week to $2,265 per 40-ft container amid a volatile environment for transporters.