The imbalances caused by the global economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly reflected in the maritime freight market. The composite index of the eight major maritime trade routes compiled by the consulting firm Drewry shows an increase of more than 330% compared to levels a year ago. On the busiest route, Shanghai-Los Angeles, the freight rate for a 40-cubic-foot container reached $9,631 in early July, 229% more than in early July 2020. Between 2011 and March 2020, the average freight rate on this route was less than $1,800. The increase in demand for Asian manufactured goods from the US and Europe, the shortage of containers, the temporary blockage of the Suez Canal due to the grounding of the Ever Given ship, and the closure of some major ports in China due to new outbreaks of the pandemic are behind this explosive increase. Experts such as Jan Hoffman, head of the trade logistics division at UNCTAD, the United Nations agency that oversees trade and development issues, believe that freight rates will take some time to return to their previous levels. These higher transportation costs will be passed on to consumers, contributing to the inflationary pressures that are worrying the market.