GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 19, 2026
Peak Season
Peak season is the recurring period of the year with the highest freight volumes.
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Source: https://www.freightos.com/freight-resources/beating-peak-season-blues-shipping-freights-busiest-season/
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Definition & Explanation
Peak season is the recurring period of the year with the highest freight volumes. In ocean freight, the classic peak season runs from mid-August to October, when retailers import goods for the year-end and holiday business; in air freight, the peak follows in the fourth quarter. For freight forwarders and shippers this means tight vessel space, rising rates, peak season surcharges, rolled bookings and longer waiting times at container ports. Anyone who wants to ship reliably during this phase books early, secures capacity contractually and plans buffers for pre- and on-carriage. Customs clearance and warehouse capacity also come under pressure. Events such as tariff-driven frontloading can shift the peak season forward or amplify it. Not to be confused with the peak season surcharge: that is the pricing consequence of the peak season, not the season itself.
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