Why are Korea to Middle East container shipping costs still rising?

The customs agency attributed the increase to protracted geopolitical tensions in the region. The report also said the Middle East route has been rising since March.

How much did Korea's container shipping costs rise to the U.S. west coast and east coast?

The average charge to the U.S. west coast rose 11.1 percent to 8.56 million won, while the east coast rate increased 14.4 percent to 8.14 million won. Both figures were reported by the Korea Customs Service using exporter-reported freight and related charges.

What does the Korea Customs Service count in its container shipping cost data?

The agency said the figures include freight rates, commissions and other charges reported by local exporters. It used these reported costs to calculate average charges for major export destinations such as the Middle East, the U.S. coasts and the European Union.

Container shipping costs to Middle East continue rising in July amid conflict

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Summary

Container shipping costs from Korea to the Middle East continued rising in July amid protracted geopolitical tensions in the region. The average charge for a 40-foot container to the Middle East rose 14.5 percent from a month earlier to 8.78 million won in June, according to the Korea Customs Service. Shipping costs to the U.S. west coast, U.S. east coast and the European Union also increased. The figures include freight rates, commissions and other charges reported by local exporters.

Key Facts

The average shipping charge for a 40-foot container from Korea to the Middle East reached 8.78 million won in June, up 14.5 percent from a month earlier.
Shipping costs for containers bound for the U.S. west coast rose 11.1 percent to 8.56 million won.
Shipping costs for containers bound for the U.S. east coast increased 14.4 percent to 8.14 million won.
Shipping costs to the European Union jumped 36.4 percent to 5.68 million won.
The figures include freight rates, commissions and other charges reported by local exporters, according to the Korea Customs Service.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 18, 2026 9:57 am KST

Containers bound for exports are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, July 24. Yohap

Container shipping costs from Korea to the Middle East continued rising in July, the customs agency said Tuesday, amid protracted geopolitical tensions in the region.

The average shipping charge for a 40-foot container from Korea to the Middle East rose 14.5 percent from a month earlier to 8.78 million won ($6,217) in June, according to data from the Korea Customs Service.

The reading has been rising since March.

The average shipping charge for containers bound for the U.S. west coast rose 11.1 percent from a month earlier to 8.56 million won, while that for the east coast increased 14.4 percent to 8.14 million won.

Shipping costs to the European Union jumped 36.4 percent to 5.68 million won.

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

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