Around China's Golden Week, Drewry analysts expect 77 blank sailings on the major east-west routes. The observed period runs from September 21 to October 25, 2026. With 720 planned departures, this corresponds to a cancellation rate of eleven percent.
The eastbound transpacific is hit hardest, accounting for 55 percent of expected cancellations. Asia-North Europe and Asia-Mediterranean account for 31 percent, and transatlantic for 14 percent. A blank sailing is a scheduled departure that is cancelled by the shipping line. Cargo is then rebooked on a later vessel or routed through an alternative port.
Golden Week leads to production shutdowns and changing cargo volumes in China each year. Shipping lines adjust their capacity so that vessels do not sail half empty. This allows them to support both utilization and rates. The additional returnees on the Suez route therefore do not automatically mean more freely available space.
For shippers, cancelled departures can result in container rollovers, missed connections, and additional storage or terminal costs. Particularly for promotional goods and fixed delivery windows, early booking is advisable. A confirmed space is still no guarantee, which is why alternative departures and ports should be reviewed.