FCL Shipping Rates from China to New Zealand - September 2026 Outlook

August's pressures haven't lifted and September adds a seasonal biosecurity requirement plus fresh disruption at origin that wasn't in play last month.

Here's what to plan around for September.

Where Rates Stand Heading into September

Capacity into New Zealand remains tight across all Asian origins, including China, with bookings needing to be placed at least 5 days ahead just to secure space — and 3–4 weeks ahead is the safer margin given how quickly services are filling.

The bigger issue is at origin: the joint ANL/COSCO/OOCL service (covering the ANZEX, CNS and NCS loops) has an ongoing port omission plan, alternating between Shanghai and Ningbo on a week-by-week basis — and this pattern is expected to continue through September, not resolve quickly. Each omission is building larger roll pools at both origins, so cargo-ready dates on this service are less predictable than usual right now. The JKN/NZJ/J-Star service (COSCO/OOCL, ONE, Maersk), which only calls Shanghai, is also losing capacity every time that port is skipped.

We're also in typhoon season (July–September), which adds further disruption risk on top of the omission pattern already in the system. CMA CGM has suspended new bookings on its Europe–NZ-via-Asia routing due to peak season congestion — a sign of how tight things have become across multiple carriers, not just the direct NZ services.

*NZ-specific rate restoration and PSS levels for September are still being confirmed on our side — talk to your KLN Oceania contact before committing to a quote.

Five Things to Watch in September

1. BMSB Risk Season Begins 1 September

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug seasonal measures start on 1 September and apply to target risk goods manufactured in or shipped from listed risk countries. Procedures are expected to run the same as last season. If you import target goods from risk countries, offshore treatment before shipment is the most reliable way to avoid border delays — talk to us early if you haven't already built this into your Q4 planning.

2. The ANL/COSCO/OOCL Service Has an Ongoing Shanghai–Ningbo Omission Pattern

This is the service most exposed right now. It's running alternate-week omissions between Shanghai and Ningbo, and the pattern is expected to continue rather than clear quickly. If your cargo typically moves on this loop, check with us which port your specific sailing will call before you commit a cargo-ready date — and build extra buffer in either case.

3. Typhoon Season Adds a Live Disruption Risk Through September

We're in the July–September typhoon window. Combined with the congestion already affecting North Asian ports, this raises the chance of further schedule disruption on top of what's already occurring. Flexibility on routing and sailing dates will help absorb any further hits.

4. MSC's Capacity Gap and Landside Costs Are Still the Underlying Pressure

There's still no direct MSC option from Asia to New Zealand, and Auckland VBS fees remain at $230 peak / $115 off-peak. Nothing new here versus August, but it's worth remembering these are ongoing costs stacking on top of whatever September's congestion adds — not one-off items that have already been absorbed into your budget.

5. Airfreight Is Still Absorbing Ocean Overflow, and Jet Fuel Surcharges Are Rising

Larger volumes of cargo are converting from ocean to air as importers respond to sea freight delays and congestion. At the same time, carriers have flagged that airfreight fuel surcharges are likely to increase this month due to rising jet fuel costs. If time-critical cargo is part of your supply chain, expect both tighter space and a higher cost base for it this month.