Spot rates for shipping containers from ports in Asia to northern Europe soared 29 per cent to US$763 per TEU this week, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Reuters reports.

It was the second straight week of increases of more than 25 per cent for spot rates on the Asia-Europe route a combined increase of $294, but it falls far short of $1,000 per TEU demanded by the shipping lines this week.

Container spot freight rates are normally calculated and published on Fridays, but this week they were issued earlier due to holidays in China.

In the week to Wednesday, container freight rates rose 24.1 per cent from Asia to ports in the Mediterranean, fell 1.7 per cent to ports on the US west coast and were down 2.2 per cent to ports on the US east coast.

Average rates for 2015 are so far $666 per TEU compared with $1,172 last year.