Container shipping speeds declined sharply in early 2026 as bunker prices surged, according to industry analysts Alphaliner.
Between Q4 2025 and Q2 2026 (to 14 April), the average speed of the container vessel fleet dropped by 2.3%, from 15.58 to 15.22 knots, with the move concentrated entirely after 28 February.
On 14 April, Alphaliner recorded an average of 15.18 knots, the lowest reading since March 2023.
Directly driving this deceleration, bunker prices moved sharply in the opposite direction, reaching all-time highs of $1,201 per tonne for VLSFO on 13 March and USD 2,018 per tonne for LSMGO on 3 April both in Singapore.
The Gulf crisis’ impact on speeds however is not homogenous across all trades.
North-South trades slowed the most. Far East – South America and Far East – ANZ both lost 3.6% over the period.
Long sea-passages make speed cuts even more valuable and these services usually carry enough slack to absorb slower steaming without breaking schedule frequency. The Transpacific and Transatlantic also clearly reacted to fuel price increases: Far East – East Coast of North America reduced speed by 2.2%, Far East – West Coast North America by 1.8%, and the North Atlantic by 1.5%.
Source: Alphaliner
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