Introduction
In July, China's logistics prosperity index stood at 50.4%, remaining in the expansion range for consecutive months, with market demand further improving; at the same time, container freight rates entered high-level fluctuation after continuous increases in the first half of the year, and the export peak season showed a characteristic of "early rush to ship." Infrastructure construction such as the "one bill of lading" system for sea-rail intermodal transport, automated terminals, and inland waterway transport systems accelerated simultaneously, and the logistics supply chain is shifting from scale expansion to a balance of efficiency and resilience.
1. Freight Rate Market: Peak Season Realized Early, Rates Fluctuate at High Levels
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) hit 3,326.87 points in early July, marking the 10th consecutive weekly increase since late April, with a cumulative gain of about 77%; subsequently, it pulled back for three consecutive weeks due to slower concentrated shipments, and rebounded to 3,205.97 points at the end of July, supported by shipping companies' capacity adjustments.
This round of market movement shows three characteristics: first, front-loaded peak season — affected by tariff policy uncertainty, there was a concentrated rush of shipments between May and June, with peak-season demand materializing in advance, and replenishment momentum weakening since July; second, capacity expansion — a wave of new vessel deliveries combined with the deployment of extra-loader ships on US West Coast routes has increased supply-side pressure; third, route divergence — spot rates on US West Coast routes have cumulatively pulled back by more than 20%, while US East Coast routes have remained relatively firm due to port congestion and Panama Canal transit restrictions, and Europe routes are under pressure after carriers increased blank sailings and cut peak-season surcharges. The Red Sea situation remains the biggest uncertainty, and rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope is expected to reduce effective capacity by approximately 15%–20%. For details on ocean freight components and billing methods, see Ocean Freight Calculation Methods: Full Container Load/Less than Container Load Billing Methods and Freight Rate Composition.
2. Multimodal Transport: New Breakthrough in Rail-Sea Intermodal "Single Bill" System
Multimodal transport is shifting from "physical connectivity" to "regulatory integration." The "Zhengzhou Putian–Lianyungang" rail-sea intermodal transport has achieved a "one-bill" breakthrough, where cargo is entrusted once and covered by a single bill through to the destination, greatly reducing intermediate links. The first "Zhongshan Huangpu Station–Yantian Port" sea-rail intermodal special train was launched, further smoothing the export channel for inland cargo in the Pearl River Delta. Shanghai has proposed building an inland waterway system that "connects provinces, reaches rivers and the sea," forming trunk-and-branch coordination with coastal ports. For cargo owners, the "one-bill" multimodal transport means fewer operational nodes, more controllable transit times, and lower overall costs. (Further reading: Advantages and processes of domestic rail-sea intermodal transport)
3. Port Construction: Automation and Hub Upgrading in Parallel
Port automation has entered the stage of large-scale implementation: the automated terminal at Shanghai Yangshan Port Phase IV has been hailed by the media as the fastest "hand speed" among global ports thanks to its world-leading operational efficiency. The world's first "Lighthouse Factory" in the container industry made its debut, combining smart manufacturing with cold-chain logistics, reflecting the direction of ports upgrading from "cargo handling hubs" to an integration of "smart manufacturing + logistics." Nanjing Port is transforming from a Yangtze River transshipment hub into an ocean departure port, and the capacity of cargo along the Yangtze River to be shipped overseas continues to strengthen.
4. Foreign Trade: Strong Manufacturing Deliveries and China-Europe Railway Express Supplies
The foreign trade manufacturing sector continued to show strong momentum: Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory deliveries rose 37.8% year-on-year in July, hitting a new high for the year; SAIC Motor and General Motors signed a joint venture renewal agreement, extending the joint venture term by 20 years, showing that multinational automakers continue to increase their commitment to the Chinese market. On the logistics side, China-Europe freight trains came to Europe's aid in the "cooling battle", ensuring the transport of air conditioners, cold-chain equipment, and other supplies during extreme heat, further highlighting the advantages of rail freight in timeliness and reliability. (Further reading: What is the China-Europe Railway Express? A complete guide to rail freight from China to Europe)
5. Policy and Green Shipping
At the policy level, Tianjin released its "15th Five-Year Plan" transportation plan, accelerating the construction of an international comprehensive transportation hub city; in the first half of the year, fixed-asset investment in highways and waterways in Hubei exceeded 106.1 billion yuan, with transport infrastructure investment remaining at a high level. In terms of green shipping, Liuzhou has included 106 old vessels in its scrapping plan, accelerating ship renewal and upgrading, and providing support for carbon reduction and capacity optimization in inland waterway shipping.
6. Outlook
In the short term, with peak-season demand absorbed in advance and continued delivery of new vessels, freight rates may maintain a trend of high-level fluctuation and moderate correction. In the medium to long term, the connectivity of multimodal transport, the construction of inland waterway networks, port automation, and green vessel renewal will jointly reshape the efficiency frontier of China's logistics supply chain. The trajectory of the Red Sea situation remains a key variable affecting global shipping capacity.
Bofeng Logistics will continue to track industry trends and provide customers with one-stop logistics services including international ocean freight, international air freight, Hong Kong-Macau logistics dedicated lines, trucking, customs clearance, warehousing, and insurance. If you need to inquire about freight rates and space, feel free to contact us.
Bofeng Logistics · Bofeng Logistics Phone/WhatsApp: 13075678958 Email: info@zhbfwl.com Contact us for personalized logistics solutions.
Data sources: China Shipping Information Network, Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SCFI, data as of the end of July 2026), China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, and public news reports.