Freight Market Snapshot: Why Now’s a Good Time to Ship
September 25th, 2025
Ocean Freight (Imports from Asia):
Rates are trending lower as carriers pulled back planned increases.
Demand is soft, capacity is wide open, and competition is keeping prices down.
Good time to ship: Yes. Space is available, and quoting shipments case by case helps capture the best spot rates. Shipping before or right after Golden Week (Oct 1–7) helps avoid holiday delays.
Domestic Trucking:
Trucking demand is weak, with lots of available capacity.
Rates are flat to down across many lanes, though carrier costs (fuel, insurance, parts) remain high.
Good time to ship: Yes. Current market conditions make it easier to secure space and competitive rates for FF&E freight.
Bottom Line: Both ocean and domestic freight markets are favorable for shippers right now. It’s a great window to move projects cost-effectively before rates rebound later in the year.
See How We Manage It All:
At JMC Global, we’ve built processes to keep projects on track no matter how the market shifts. This short video explains how our order management freight system works and the steps we take to simplify shipping for our clients:
What is Golden Week?
Golden Week is a week-long national holiday in China that begins on October 1st. During this time, most factories and offices close, and production and shipping activity slows down significantly.
Why it matters for shipping
Reduced sailings: Many carriers cancel or “blank” sailings due to lower demand.
Delays: Cargo already in transit can face backlogs as operations restart.
Planning ahead: It’s common for rates and transit times to fluctuate before and after the holiday.
This year, Golden Week runs October 1–7, 2025. Shippers should plan for potential delays around those dates and quote shipments case by case.
Our Houston-area JMC Global team had the joy of celebrating Project Manager Haylee Bieser and her fiancé Alex at The Woodlands Country Club this week. We’re so excited for them as they get ready for their big day!