As the year-end peak season (October-December) kicks off, a new challenge has emerged for lightbox businesses worldwide: skyrocketing shipping surcharges are eating into profit margins and threatening the stability of supply chains. For our overseas clients who rely on timely lightbox deliveries for holiday promotions, store upgrades, and event preparations, understanding the current logistics landscape and our proactive responses is more critical than ever.

This peak season, the pain of logistics costs is no longer limited to base freight rates—surcharges have become the biggest "profit killer" for lightbox exporters. According to the latest data from the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), as of early October 2025, key surcharges on major routes for lightbox shipments have reached alarming levels:

• Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF): On the Asia-Europe route (a major channel for lightbox exports to Western Europe), BAF has surged to 40% of the base freight rate—up from 22% in the same period last year. For a 40-foot container (FEU) of slim LED lightboxes, this alone adds an extra $1,200 to the shipping cost.
• Port Congestion Surcharge (PCS): Ports in Northern Europe (such as Rotterdam and Hamburg) and the U.S. West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach) are facing unprecedented congestion due to labor shortages and increased cargo volumes. PCS for these routes has jumped to $800-1,000 per FEU, a 67% increase year-on-year.
• Emergency Space Surcharge (ESS): To secure shipping space during the peak season, many lightbox businesses have to pay ESS, which accounts for 15%-20% of the base rate. For high-demand products like custom decorative lightboxes, some forwarders even charge a premium of 25% for guaranteed December delivery.

For overseas clients, the surge in shipping surcharges and congestion has two direct impacts:

1. Extended Delivery Times: Routes that typically take 28-35 days (e.g., Shanghai to Rotterdam) now take 40-45 days due to port delays. Some shipments scheduled for early November delivery may be pushed to mid-December, which could affect holiday promotional plans for retail lightbox users.
2. Narrowed Negotiation Space on Pricing: Unlike raw material costs that can be adjusted through bulk purchases, surcharges are often imposed by shipping lines with little room for negotiation. "We’ve absorbed 60% of the surcharge increase to avoid passing too much cost to clients," Li explained. "But for large orders of over 10 containers, we may need to discuss a 5%-8% price adjustment to maintain production quality."

To minimize the impact on our overseas partners, we’ve implemented three key strategies:

1. Locked in Shipping Space 2 Months in Advance: We’ve signed long-term contracts with three major shipping lines (Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd) to reserve 50 FEUs of space per month for peak season. This ensures that urgent orders (e.g., medical lightboxes for clinics) can be shipped within 7 days of production completion.
2. Optimized Packaging to Reduce Volume-Related Costs: For ultra-thin lightboxes (a popular choice for retail stores), we’ve redesigned packaging to compress the volume by 18%—without compromising protection. This reduces the "dimensional weight" charged by airlines (for air freight backups) and lowers container loading costs.
3. Real-Time Shipment Tracking & Proactive Communication: Every client is assigned a dedicated logistics coordinator who provides daily updates on shipment status, including port arrival times and customs clearance progress. If a delay is anticipated, we’ll notify clients 5-7 days in advance and offer alternatives (e.g., partial air freight for critical items).

As the peak season continues until mid-December, we remain committed to working closely with overseas clients to mitigate logistics challenges. For clients planning 2026 Q1 orders, we recommend placing bookings 4-6 weeks in advance to secure space at more stable rates. We’re also exploring "sea-air combined transport" options (e.g., sea to Dubai, then air to Europe) to cut delivery times for time-sensitive orders—with costs 30% lower than full air freight.

For inquiries about your current order status or 2026 bookings, please contact our client service team at Luna@kingwe-star.com or call 86-137-9834-3469.