October 28, 2019 – November will be a decisive month for ocean carriers as they go all out to push up container spot rates on the key tradelanes of Asia-Europe and the transpacific. According to Alexander Borulev, commodity associate at S&P Global Platts, rates are “no longer falling” due to the blanking programs of the carriers. And they are preparing a raft of FAK and general rate increases for November 1. However, the extent of the challenge facing the global carriers is evidenced by Friday’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which continues to record substantially depressed rate levels for both routes.