Shipping consultancy Drewry has warned there could be a nasty shock in store for boxship owners currently enjoying booming transpacific rates.

Earnings have soared since July, as service withdrawals and new tariffs sent the market into "hyper-drive", it said.

Rates between Asia and the US West Coast rose 2% by the end of October to $2,530 per feu, nearly double last year’s level, according to the Freightos Baltic Index.