Home > National > Social Affairs

Cost to ship containers to U.S. East Coast rises for 4th month in February

Published: 16 Mar. 2026, 14:01 Updated: 16 Mar. 2026, 14:52

Containers are stacked at Pyeongtaek Port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on March 1. [YONHAP]

Container shipping costs from Korea to the West Coast of the United States fell for a third consecutive month in February, while rates to the East Coast rose for a fourth straight month, data showed Monday.

The average shipping cost for a 40-foot container to the West Coast declined 4.2 percent from a month earlier to 4.52 million won ($3,025), the Korea Customs Service said. In contrast, the average rate to the East Coast edged up 0.7 percent on month to 5.38 million won.

Rates to the European Union fell 5.5 percent to 3.28 million won, marking a second consecutive monthly decline.

Shipping rates to China fell 9.7 percent on month, while rates to Japan climbed 16.8 percent to 862,000 won, extending their upward trend to a fourth straight month.

The figures include freight rates, commissions and other related charges reported by local exporters, according to the agency.

Yonhap