Gulf of America & Caribbean Basin — Market Update

1 Global Ocean Freight Snapshot

The turn we flagged last week is starting to show. Rates ticked higher again on mid-month increases — transpacific is now up roughly $4,000/FEU since May — but underneath, the early peak season is beginning to unwind. Approximate levels below, per published Freightos market commentary (week of July 14, 2026):

Trade Lane	Current Rate	Weekly Change	Direction
Asia → US West Coast	~$7,500/FEU	+13%	↑ Rising, but topping
Asia → US East Coast	~$9,000/FEU	+6%	↑ Slowing
Asia → N. Europe	~$5,800/FEU	+8%	↑ Rising
Asia → Mediterranean	~$7,050/FEU	+1%	→ Flattening

Macro drivers. Two forces are now pulling in opposite directions. On the softening side: space is beginning to open at major hubs, some carriers are quietly discounting despite planned mid-month hikes, and the U.S. NRF projects August import volumes down ~10% month-on-month and September down another ~10% — classic signs of an early peak unwinding (even as July itself sets a record ~2.47M TEU of arrivals). On the firming side: the Strait of Hormuz has closed again, pushing oil up ~10% and bunkers up ~5%, and a proposed 20% transit fee adds uncertainty — so fuel is now a source of upward pressure. Net read: peak demand is still the dominant force this week, but the momentum has clearly shifted. For our region, this is when Gulf of America and Caribbean feeder space should start to loosen — though rising fuel may offset part of any rate relief. If you have August–September cargo, the negotiating position is improving.

2 Gulf of America & Caribbean Basin — FCL Container Rates

Firm-to-tightening conditions as we move deeper into summer peak. Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) — the #1 US port for Caribbean trade, processing 1.16M+ TEUs in FY2025 — remains the primary gateway. Kingston (KCT), the region's main transshipment hub, continues to normalize after the 2024–25 congestion.

Indicative FCL ocean freight — South Florida to Caribbean (week of July 17, 2026):

Destination	Main Port	20ft (TEU)	40ft (FEU)	Transit
Bahamas	Nassau / Freeport	$1,050–1,900	$1,700–2,800	2–4 days
Dominican Republic	Rio Haina	$1,400–2,350	$2,000–3,450	4–6 days
Haiti	Port-au-Prince	$1,600–2,550	$2,250–3,650	4–7 days
Jamaica	Kingston	$1,600–2,600	$2,350–3,900	5–8 days
Trinidad & Tobago	Port of Spain	$2,100–3,400	$2,950–4,700	9–14 days
Colombia	Cartagena / B'quilla	$1,850–2,900	$2,500–4,150	7–12 days
Panama	Colón / Balboa	$1,550–2,450	$2,200–3,450	5–8 days

Indicative port-to-port ocean freight only. BAF, THC, documentation and surcharges additional.

3 Break-Bulk & LCL Rates by Origin

Break-bulk and LCL cargo is quoted per Revenue Ton (RT) on a W/M basis — the higher of 1 metric ton (1,000 kg) or 1 cubic meter (CBM). Rates below are indicative ranges for general break-bulk and LCL; project, heavy-lift and out-of-gauge cargo are quoted separately. Venezuela attracts the region's highest risk premium.

Destination	Per Revenue Ton (RT)	Transit	Notes
Venezuela (Pto Cabello / La Guaira)	$135–210	10–16 days	Incl. risk surcharge · OFAC clearance required
Dominican Republic (Rio Haina)	$70–130	6–9 days	—
Colombia (Cartagena / B'quilla)	$85–150	7–11 days	—
Panama (Colón)	$80–140	6–9 days	—

Destination	Per Revenue Ton (RT)	Transit	Notes
Venezuela (Pto Cabello / La Guaira)	$130–200	8–14 days	Incl. risk surcharge · OFAC clearance required
Dominican Republic (Rio Haina)	$55–110	4–7 days	Shortest Caribbean transit
Colombia (Cartagena / B'quilla)	$80–140	7–12 days	—
Panama (Colón)	$75–135	5–8 days	—

Destination	Per Revenue Ton (RT)	Transit	Notes
Venezuela (Pto Cabello / La Guaira)	$150–230	12–18 days	Incl. risk surcharge · OFAC clearance required
Dominican Republic (Rio Haina)	$80–145	6–9 days	—
Colombia (Cartagena / B'quilla)	$95–165	9–13 days	—
Panama (Colón)	$90–155	8–11 days	—

Destination	Per Revenue Ton (RT)	Transit	Notes
Venezuela (Pto Cabello / La Guaira)	$120–195	9–15 days	Incl. risk surcharge · OFAC clearance required
Dominican Republic (Rio Haina)	$75–135	6–9 days	—
Colombia (Cartagena / B'quilla)	$85–150	7–11 days	—
Panama (Colón)	$80–145	6–10 days	—

Destination	Per Revenue Ton (RT)	Transit	Notes
Venezuela (Pto Cabello / La Guaira)	$125–200	9–15 days	Incl. risk surcharge · OFAC clearance required
Dominican Republic (Rio Haina)	$78–138	6–9 days	—
Colombia (Cartagena / B'quilla)	$88–152	7–11 days	—
Panama (Colón)	$82–148	6–10 days	—

Indicative break-bulk / LCL ranges per revenue ton (W/M). Actual rates depend on commodity, volume, stowage, packaging and port conditions. Project and heavy-lift cargo quoted separately. Contact us for a firm quotation.

4 Route Focus: Venezuela — Puerto Cabello & La Guaira

Our specialty lane. Puerto Cabello (Carabobo) and La Guaira (serving Caracas) are Venezuela's two principal commercial ports, handling containers, break-bulk and project cargo. Indicative container freight from the U.S. Gulf (June 2026):

Service	Estimated Rate	Notes
20ft Container (TEU)	$2,300–3,700	Peak premium + Venezuela risk surcharge
40ft Container (FEU)	$3,300–5,300	Subject to OFAC clearance before booking
Break-Bulk / LCL (per RT)	$130–210	Reflects sanctions environment, limited carriers
Transit Time	10–18 days	Often via transshipment (Curaçao / Kingston)

5 Outlook & Commercial Recommendations