Baltic Dry Index hit 3,488 on 3 September, its highest since October 2021, and the Shanghai container index is up over 200% year on year. Freight on Shanghai to US East Coast is near COVID-peak levels after roughly quadrupling since the Iran war began in late February, and bunker fuel (VLSFO) rose from about $544 to $902 per tonne. An analyst expects rates to stay high for another 4–6 months, with a super El Niño adding Panama Canal drag into late year. For a Thai SME, this means freight and fuel surcharges on imports and exports are likely to stay elevated this quarter, so review shipping quotes and pricing. The article's focus is stock valuation, so the share-price advice is not relevant to a business owner.
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