Against the backdrop of the tariff policies on China initiated by US President Trump, container shipping companies are now canceling sailings more extensively than during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming planned cancellations on trans-Pacific routes indicate a worrisome outlook for global trade.

Sail cancellations refer to shipping companies skipping port calls due to poor freight demand or equipment shortages, disrupting supply chains. In April 2025, global reported cancellations exceeded 80, surpassing the 51 cancellations in May 2020.

The latest data from Sea-Intelligence reveals that shipping companies anticipate a 28% lower container demand on the Asia to US West Coast route for Week 18 (next week) and an expected 42% reduction in volume on the Asia to US East Coast route for Week 19.

Sea-Intelligence notes, "Clearly, the impact of the trade war has led many shippers to pause or outright cancel shipments. This has reduced the demand for container vessel capacity, prompting carriers to respond by canceling bookings."

Judah Levine, Research Director at container booking platform Freightos, commented, "Short-term implementation of sail cancellations from China and potentially increased demand for services from other origins could pose operational challenges for shipping companies, resulting in delayed deliveries for shippers. Additionally, the presence of empty containers stranded in China may bring additional issues."

In a previous report, Sea-Intelligence warned, "The destructive impact of this trade war is particularly severe for smaller shipping companies. Many businesses rely heavily on the volume of goods from China and lack the capability to swiftly pivot to non-China origins. Some companies may be forced to completely suspend operations throughout the duration of the trade war."