SHIPPING COSTS SOAR 400% TO COVID-ERA HIGH AS DIESEL SHORTAGE HITS

The global supply chain is flashing warning signs we haven’t seen since the COVID-era crisis. According to Reuters, the spot cost of shipping a 40-foot container from China to the U.S. East Coast has surged to roughly $10,948 more than quadrupling since the Iran war began and closing in on the roughly $11,900 COVID-era record.

Bank of America data reported by ZeroHedge shows its Shanghai-to-Los Angeles freight benchmark up 201% year over year, approaching the 247% surge associated with the 2021 container shortage.

And Reuters reported on September 21 that the global diesel shortage could persist into 2027. U.S. diesel inventories have fallen to historically low seasonal levels while diesel prices have surged. Put the two problems together: Ships are becoming dramatically more expensive to move. Shipping capacity is tightening. Ship fuel costs have surged.
Diesel supplies are historically tight.
Trucking costs are rising.

We are likely witnessing the early stages of a much broader supply disruption and whether today’s transportation shock eventually turns into delayed shipments, reduced inventories and product shortages.

Authorities:
Reuters “Ocean container shipping rates could test record highs as Iran war fuels spike⁠”— September 17, 2026
ZeroHedge “Ocean Container Freight Costs Explode, Rivaling COVID-Era Crisis Highs⁠” -September 20, 2026
Reuters “Global diesel shortage likely to last into 2027 as storage tanks drain⁠”- September 21, 2026