Ahead of the imposition of new tariffs by the US, the cost of global sea freight shipping has reached a record level in the past two years, experts say, the Financial Times reports.

According to the digital shipping platform Freightos, rates on routes between Asia and the US East Coast, as well as between Asia and Europe, last week reached their highest point since the summer of 2024.

Accordingly, the cost of transporting a standard 40-foot container (12.9 meters long, 2.44 meters wide and 2.59 meters high) on the China-US East Coast route has increased sharply, reaching $7,880, which is 62% more than a month ago. And the cost of such cargo transportation between China and the Mediterranean Sea has increased by 47%, amounting to $6,431.

Uncertainty over tariffs and marine fuel prices has led to accelerated loading of goods, especially to the US, which has sharply increased freight shipping rates, BIMCO—the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the world's largest international shipping association said in a statement.

According to Judah Levine‏, Head of Research at Freightos, customers and shipping companies are moving deliveries to earlier dates to avoid potential disruptions expected in the summer, as well as rising fuel prices due to the crisis in the Middle East.

The US plans to impose new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on products from about 60 countries in July. Such a decision was made following the results of an investigation launched in March, which concerned the norms in force in these countries regarding the import of goods produced using forced labor.

The investigation was initiated on the basis of Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974. It authorizes the US president to take all necessary measures to counter restrictions on national trade applied by other countries, as they, in the opinion of the American side, exist at the given time.