Group 1: Investment Rating - No investment rating information provided in the report. Group 2: Core Viewpoints - The inflection point of spot freight rates is gradually established, and some shipping companies have started to lower the spot quotes for the second half of January. The EC market as a whole has continued to weaken following the spot quotes [3]. - The high point of phased freight rates is gradually emerging. The demand for goods remains high but the growth rate is slowing down. The supply of shipping capacity has changed, and some shipping lines have announced suspension plans. Geopolitical factors may affect fuel costs and trade patterns [4]. Group 3: Summary by Directory 1. Market Analysis and Strategy Recommendations Market Analysis - On January 8, 2026, the closing price of EC2602 was 1706 points, a decrease of 4.11% from the previous trading day. On December 26, 2025, the SCFI European line was quoted at $1690/TEU, a month-on-month increase of 10.24%. The latest SCFIS European line index was 1795.83 points, a month-on-month increase of 3%, slightly lower than expected [3]. - The high point of phased freight rates is gradually emerging. Different shipping companies have different pricing and price adjustment strategies. The demand for goods remains high but the growth rate is slowing down. The shipping capacity from Shanghai to the five Nordic ports in January, February and March 2026 is expected to be 306,000, 252,700 and 288,400 TEUs respectively. CMA has announced a suspension plan for the Spring Festival, with three additional empty ships in February, with an average container capacity of 18,855 TEUs. Geopolitical factors may affect fuel costs and trade patterns [4]. Trading Strategies - Unilateral: Wait and see, and pay attention to the rate of price cuts by shipping companies [5]. - Arbitrage: Wait for opportunities to enter the market at low prices for the 6 - 10 positive spread [6]. 2. Industry News - As of January 7, 2026, the European natural gas inventory has dropped to the lowest level since the Russia - Ukraine conflict. The current inventory is far below the five - year average, less than 60%, and the EU may face the risk of natural gas shortage [9]. - Zelensky said that the Russia - Ukraine conflict is expected to end in the first half of 2026 [9]. 3. Container Shipping - Container Freight Index (European Line) Futures Market - Different futures contracts (EC2602, EC2604, etc.) have different closing prices, price changes, price change rates, trading volumes, trading volume change rates, open interest and open interest change rates. For example, EC2602 closed at 1706.0, down 73.1 points or 4.11%, with a trading volume of 27,173.0 hands, a decrease of 37.68% [1]. - The spread between different futures contracts (such as EC04 - EC06, EC02 - EC08) has also changed [1]. Container Freight Rates - Different container freight rates (SCFIS European line, SCFIS US West line, etc.) have different prices, month - on - month and year - on - year changes. For example, the SCFIS European line was at 1795.83 points, a month - on - month increase of 3.05% and a year - on - year decrease of 46.99% [1]. Fuel Costs - The prices of Brent crude oil and WTI crude oil have month - on - month and year - on - year changes. The price of Brent crude oil near - month was $56.43/barrel, a month - on - month decrease of 0.74% and a year - on - year decrease of 23.54%. The price of WTI crude oil near - month was $59.94/barrel, a month - on - month decrease of 0.32% and a year - on - year decrease of 21.7% [1].

Group 1: Market Data - EC2602 closed at 1795.1 points on December 30, down 1.53% from the previous day's closing price. EC2604 closed at 1160.2 points, down 0.83%; EC2606 at 1370.0 points, down 0.29%; EC2608 at 1500.1 points, up 0.16%; EC2610 at 1056.0 points, up 0.12%; EC2612 at 1308.0 points, down 18.49% [4]. - The SCFIS European line reported 1742.64 points on December 26, up 9.66% month - on - month. The SCFI: Shanghai - Europe was 1690 USD/TEU, up 10.24% month - on - month [4][6]. - WTI crude oil near - month was at 57.58 dollars/barrel, up 1.55% month - on - month and down 18.55% year - on - year. Brent crude oil near - month was at 61.26 dollars/barrel, up 1.54% month - on - month and down 17.4% year - on - year [4]. Group 2: Market Analysis and Strategy Recommendation Market Analysis - The market is continuously debating the high point and path of January freight rates. The EC futures market experienced a callback and oscillation today. MSK released a quote of 2700 US dollars for the Shanghai - Rotterdam route in WK3, a small increase of 100 compared to last week. The subsequent market booking situation should be monitored [6]. - There are still differences in the high point and path of January freight rates in the spot market. The supply and demand situation has changed, with 12 - 1 month shipments expected to gradually improve. The shipping capacity from Shanghai to the five Nordic ports in December was 260,000 TEU, and the average weekly shipping capacity in January and February 2026 is expected to be 316,100 and 279,200 TEU respectively. The shipping capacity in December decreased by 5% compared to last week, while that in January increased by 5.5% [7]. - The second - stage of the Israel - Palestine peace talks is still tortuous. After Maersk's trial voyage on the India - East Coast of the United States route through the Red Sea, CMA CGM's Jacques Saadé and Adonis passed through the Suez Canal, strengthening the expectation of a phased resumption of navigation, which may suppress the far - month contracts [7]. Strategy Recommendation - Unilateral: Most of the long positions in the EC2602 contract should be taken profit at high levels, and the remaining light positions can be held at the discretion of the investor. Pay attention to the rhythm of shipping companies' price increases and cargo volume improvement. The far - month contracts are expected to be suppressed due to the resumption of navigation expectations [8]. - Arbitrage: Wait and see [9]. Group 3: Industry News - The "Listing and Operation of Shipping Index Futures" project of the Shanghai Futures Exchange won the Special Prize of the Financial Innovation Achievement Award in the 2023 - 2024 Shanghai Financial Innovation Award [10]. - US President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and expressed concerns about Iran's nuclear and missile programs, threatening to strike Iran again. He also mentioned that Hamas should be disarmed and would face consequences if it fails to do so [10][11].

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No information provided in the report. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The decline of SCFIS announced yesterday slightly exceeded market expectations, and the EC futures market showed a corrective oscillation today. The quote of $2500 per FEU for the first week of December released by MSK after the market basically met expectations. Attention should be paid to the subsequent market booking situation. The SCFIS European Line index is expected to remain at a low level in the second half of November, and the December quotes need to be monitored this week [5]. - In terms of spot freight rates, the long - term cargo of shipping companies has improved, but the upward momentum in the second half of November has weakened. The demand for shipments is expected to gradually improve from November to December. The weekly average capacity from Shanghai to the five Nordic ports in November and December is 265,500 and 283,300 TEU respectively, and 295,800 TEU in January 2026. The capacity in November and January next year has little change, while the capacity in December has decreased by 4.6% compared with the previous period. The recent market trading logic has returned to the spot market [6]. - The trading strategy suggests a wait - and - see approach for both unilateral and arbitrage trading [7]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Container Shipping - Container Freight Index (European Line) - **Futures Market Performance**: On November 18, EC2512 closed at 1769.5 points, down 1.27% from the previous day's closing price. All listed futures contracts showed price declines, with varying degrees of decrease in trading volume and changes in open interest. The month - spread structure also had corresponding price changes [3][5]. - **Container Freight Rates**: The SCFIS European Line index was 1357.67 points, down 9.78% week - on - week and 51.02% year - on - year. Different container freight rates showed various trends, with some routes having price increases and others having decreases [3]. - **Fuel Costs**: The price of WTI crude oil's near - month contract was $59.62 per barrel, down 0.32% week - on - week and 13.63% year - on - year. The price of Brent crude oil's near - month contract was $63.62 per barrel, down 0.30% week - on - week and 12.6% year - on - year [3]. Market Analysis and Strategy Recommendation - **Market Analysis**: The decline of the SCFIS European Line index was larger than expected, mainly due to the decline of MSK's freight rates. The index is expected to remain low in the second half of November. The demand for shipments is expected to improve from November to December, and the capacity in December has decreased compared with the previous period [5][6]. - **Trading Strategy**: For unilateral trading, it is expected to be in a volatile state, and a wait - and - see approach is recommended. For arbitrage trading, also a wait - and - see approach is suggested [7]. Industry News The Palestinian government welcomed the US - proposed resolution on Gaza passed by the UN Security Council, which aims to establish a permanent and comprehensive cease - fire in the Gaza Strip, ensure the unobstructed entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, and reaffirm the Palestinian people's right to self - determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state [8].