Global container shipping rates continued their dizzying ascent in December, S&P Global Platts data shows. There was a mixture of continued demand strength, with U.S. seaborne imports of containerized freight rising by 22.1% year over year, and equipment shortages. Together those factors drove North Asia to East Coast North America rates up by $600/FEU to reach $5,400/FEU during the month. The situation on North Asia to U.K. routes is even more stark with an increase to $8,000 per FEU by month end versus $2,600 per FEU at the end of November ahead of the end of U.K.-EU preferenti...