West Coast vs East Coast: Why Shippers Are Overpaying by $3,334 per

Xeneta data reveals U.S. West Coast imports save $3,334 per FEU compared to East Coast routes amid soaring spot rates.

FP 25 Aug 2026 ·08:49 · 11 hours ago

2 min read PACIFIC

A container ship docked at a U.S. West Coast port, where shippers could save thousands per FEU compared to East Coast routes.

THE ESSENTIALS

Trans-Pacific shippers could save $3,334 per FEU by routing cargo through U.S. West Coast ports instead of East Coast gateways.
Spot rates to the U.S. East Coast have surged 300% since the Middle East crisis began on February 28.
Xeneta’s latest data shows Asia-West Coast rates at $7,193 per FEU, up 2.7% in a week.
Asia-East Coast rates hit $10,527 per FEU, a 2.8% weekly increase and 42% higher than pre-crisis levels.

Trans-Pacific shippers could be missing out on significant savings by continuing to route Asia-bound imports through U.S. East Coast ports, according to a recent analysis by Xeneta. The cost difference between the two coasts has reached $3,334 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU), a gap larger than the entire pre-crisis shipping rate to either coast. Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand emphasized that shippers with flexible logistics networks should seriously consider shifting to West Coast gateways. While this may require increased reliance on truck and rail for inland distribution, the potential savings…

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