Taiwan's container shipping lines are riding a run of rising freight rates, and Wan Hai's shares hit a 15-month high on strong July earnings.

• Wan Hai earned about NT$6 billion in July, with revenue up 50% from a year earlier.
• Its stock closed at the daily limit, the highest in 15 months, as the Shanghai freight rate index rose for a fourth straight week.
• Rates to the US West and East Coasts kept climbing, while Southeast Asia routes jumped the most.
• Europe and Mediterranean routes went the other way and fell.
• Shipping capacity is tight because of conflict risk, bad weather, and port strikes, which keeps prices high.

Outlook: Rates should stay high through the peak third quarter, and any fourth-quarter pullback is likely to be gradual unless the Red Sea and Hormuz tensions ease.