As the Lunar New Year approaches, the global shipping market has entered its traditional pre-holiday peak period earlier than usual. According to data from multiple international shipping monitoring agencies shipping capacity on routes to Europe surged by nearly 49% in the mere weeks preceding the Spring Festival, far exceeding the growth rate seen in previous years during the same period. This phenomenon not only reflects the concentrated release of market demand for shipments ahead of the holiday but has fundamentally reshaped the rhythm of global logistics supply and demand.

Recent tracking data released by multiple shipping data agencies indicates a marked increase in container capacity supply on key Asia-Europe shipping routes ahead of the Spring Festival. Compared to the same period last year, overall capacity on these routes has risen by approximately 49%, with particularly significant increases in vessel deployments and container allocations at key Asian export hub ports. This capacity expansion has been driven by multiple measures implemented by liner companies to manage the pre-holiday cargo peak, including advance scheduling of vessel deployments, increased frequency of sailings, and the temporary introduction of additional services.

Industry analysts suggest that this surge in shipping capacity requires shipping companies to enter the market earlier and adjust their competitive strategies in advance. Failure to do so may result in cargo backlogs and container shortages during the pre-holiday peak period. A number of shipping enterprises have proactively adopted a strategy of adjusting General Rate Increase (GRI) ahead of others. By implementing small-scale, phased freight rate increases, they aim to balance supply and demand and prevent the collective worsening of container shortages. While this approach has effectively mitigated the risk of excessive localised rate hikes in the short term, it has also intensified competition within the global maritime shipping market.

For many years, the period around the Spring Festival has been a traditional peak season in the global logistics sector. However, with the increasing interconnectedness of global supply chains, this year's "pre-holiday shipping surge" has exhibited a more pronounced advance and concentration. This shift in timing manifests across multiple levels: port container loading and terminal operations have been pushed to their limits, sea-air freight coordination has become the norm, and both cross-border e-commerce and traditional foreign trade enterprises have moved to secure freight rates and cargo space well in advance. Concurrently, enterprises are adjusting supply chain strategies—such as extending inventory buffer periods, optimising warehouse layouts, and utilising alternative transport channels—to enhance overall logistics responsiveness and resilience.

Looking ahead, as post-holiday transport demand gradually recedes, global maritime shipping supply and demand are expected to enter a phase of "normalisation" adjustment. However, in the longer term, this mechanism of advanced cargo consolidation and flexible capacity supply within the global shipping market is likely to become the new industry norm. Particularly against the backdrop of evolving global trade patterns and accelerated supply chain digitalisation, enterprises must enhance their logistical resilience to navigate future uncertainties.