Shanghai-North Europe freight futures have rallied since 10 October with traders placing their bets on a rate rebound in the next 2 months. December 2024 contracts are now trading at a 16% premium over October on expectations that carriers will be able to secure part of their planned rate increase in November and hold the higher rates through December on the back of firmer year-end cargo demand. However, the post-Chinese New Year rate rally have fizzled out with forward rates for April, June and