May 10, 2021 – Ocean carriers are said to be preparing big increases in short-term rates as cargo-rolling becomes the norm. On the transpacific, carriers are ‘sold out’ for the rest of May and into June, with last week’s spot rate increases from Asia to the U.S. west and east coasts described by one shipper as “academic.” For the transpacific tradelane, last week’s FBX recorded a 3.5% increase for Asia to the U.S. west coast, to $5,015 per 40ft, and a 5.5% uplift to spot rates for the east coast, to $6,584 per 40ft. And there is no let-up in sight in the demand for imports from Asia, the U.S. National Retail Federation predicting that the restocking of low inventory levels by retailers will continue for several more months and into the peak season.