Container shipping rates took a step backwards in October with a 1.1% decline in rates for routes out of China. A 3.6% slump in rates to Europe led the way with a 2.7% slide in South-East Asia rates. That offset improving rates from China to the U.S. which rose 4.8% on west-coast U.S. lanes. The latter suggests inventory build-up into the year-end holiday season, and possibly stockpiling ahead of future U.S.-China tariffs. The decrease in rates is not encouraging for container-lines which already saw a drop in profitability, as shown by COSCO Shipping’s and Ocean Network Express...