September 24th, 2026 – Shippers are seeing fewer blank sailings ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday than in recent years, although additional capacity cuts could still be announced as the October 1st holiday approaches.
A blank sailing is when an ocean carrier cancels or skips a scheduled port of call or region in the middle of a fixed rotation, generally caused by shifting market conditions like low demand, port congestion, bad weather, etc.
According to Xeneta and eeSea data, just under 13% of total planned October capacity on services from Asia to the U.S. and Europe has been blanked so far. That compares with nearly 18% of trans-Pacific capacity and 21% of Asia-Europe capacity during Golden Week last year.
The difference is even more pronounced compared with 2023, when approximately 24% of capacity was canceled on both major trade lanes.
The number of individual canceled sailings has also declined. Far East-North America services currently have 48 blanked October sailings, compared with between 62 and 73 during recent years. Asia-Europe services have 23 confirmed blanks, down from a range of 31 to 39.
Stronger Demand Supports Capacity
The lower level of blank sailings, particularly on the trans-Pacific, comes amid continued strength in U.S. imports. Peak shipping season has extended into September as storm-related vessel delays in China and draft restrictions at the Panama Canal disrupt schedules and push cargo into later weeks.
However, the current figures may not represent the final level of Golden Week capacity reductions. Carriers have increasingly shortened the lead time for announcing blank sailings, meaning additional cancellations could emerge during or immediately following the holiday.
Fewer individual services are also being affected this year. Approximately 39% of trans-Pacific services have experienced Golden Week blankings so far, compared with 56% last year and 69% in 2023. On Asia-Europe routes, 34% of services are currently affected, versus 62% last year and 61% in 2023.
October Capacity Expected to Increase
Despite anticipated blank sailings, overall vessel capacity is expected to rise in October.
Planned capacity from Asia to the U.S. is projected to reach approximately 2.3 million TEUs, up slightly from 2.28 million TEUs in September. At the same time, blanked capacity is forecast to increase substantially, from 129,409 TEUs in September to 314,421 TEUs in October.
Asia-North Europe capacity is expected to climb nearly 10%, from 1.18 million TEUs in September to 1.29 million TEUs in October. Blanked capacity on the trade is projected to rise from 37,224 TEUs to 183,837 TEUs.
The return of some Asia-Europe services to the Suez Canal could also influence carrier decisions. As Suez routings restore effective vessel capacity, carriers may use additional last-minute blank sailings to better align supply with demand.
Carriers Announce Capacity Cuts
Several carriers have already announced Golden Week adjustments. Cosco Shipping has canceled nine sailings across its Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean services, with departures from Shanghai originally scheduled between October 6th and October 22nd.
Gemini Cooperation will blank three Asia-Europe sailings between September 28th and October 10th, along with one complete loop on both its U.S. West Coast and East Coast routes.
Maersk is also reducing trans-Pacific capacity by indefinitely suspending its seasonal Transpacific Loader Service (TPX) beginning in October. The service launched in June using vessels ranging from approximately 3,500 to 4,600 TEUs, with its final scheduled sailing departing Vietnam on September 29th.
While Golden Week capacity reductions remain below recent years for now, shippers should continue monitoring carrier schedules as additional blank sailings may be announced closer to and immediately following the holiday.
