Container freight rates on Asia-Europe routes climbed for a third straight week as ongoing Red Sea security concerns kept a large share of vessel traffic diverted around the Cape of Good Hope.

The longer routing has added roughly two weeks to typical transit times, tightening vessel and container availability heading into the pre-holiday shipping season.

Carriers have layered on general rate increases and peak-season surcharges, passing higher fuel and insurance costs through to shippers.

Logistics managers said they are booking cargo further in advance than usual, with some importers pulling forward orders to avoid potential capacity crunches later in the year.