The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the benchmark widely referenced by procurement teams, remained stable at $4,476 per 40ft container for the second consecutive week.
On the Transpacific trade, rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 2% to $7,352 per 40ft container, while those from Shanghai to New York edged up 1% to $9,726 per 40ft container. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, eight blank sailings have been announced for next week, up from seven this week, indicating tighter capacity. With easing demand and continued carrier capacity management, Drewry expects freight rates to remain stable next week.
On the Asia–Europe trade route, rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell 3% to $4,216 per 40ft container while they decreased 2% to $3,997 per 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, three blank sailings are announced for next week, up from one this week, indicating tight capacity. While congestion at Shanghai port remained elevated, it improved from 94 hours in Week 35 to 64 hours in Week 36. With low demand, persistent congestion in Asia and continued capacity management by carriers, Drewry expects rates to remain stable next week.
Iran–US tensions continue to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Panama Canal Authority has postponed a 0.15-metre draft reduction for Neopanamax vessels, although transit restrictions remain. Carriers are supporting rates through capacity management, while congestion at Asian ports continues to disrupt schedules. Meanwhile, the selective return of services to the Suez Canal is restoring effective capacity on Asia–Europe routes, putting downwards pressure on freight rates. Early booking remains important as congestion and blank sailings can tighten capacity.
Intra-Asia rates hit record high hits record high
In a separate report, the Drewry Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), edged up 1% this week to $1,323 per 40ft container. The IACI Composite Index has broken its all-time high for the third consecutive week, indicating that ongoing geopolitical and typhoon-related disruptions continue to ripple through supply chains and constrain available capacity.
Spot rates from China to Southeast and South Asia showed mixed movements reflecting lane-specific changes in demand, effective capacity and the network’s ability to readjust following the disruption. This divergence is evident on the Shanghai–Singapore and Shanghai–Tanjung Pelepas lanes, which mainly serve transhipment hubs in similar locations but saw freight rates
move in opposite directions. Rates from Shanghai to Singapore fell 7% to $1,779 per 40ft container while those from Shanghai to Tanjung Pelepas rose 6% to $1,806 per 40ft container.
The Middle East situation continued to deteriorate, with rates remaining elevated, while rising rates on alternative routes such as via Jawaharlal Nehru Port indicate that market conditions remained far from normal. Storm-related disruptions continued to affect vessel schedules and increase congestion at Chinese ports.
(Dreamstime photo of Shanghai)