Drewry, a leading provider of maritime research and consulting services, today announced a significant decline in its Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), reflecting renewed softness in the regional freight market.
In the first half of October, the IACI registered a sharp drop of 12%, settling at $487 per 40ft container. This new figure represents the lowest spot rate level recorded for the index since April 2024. Furthermore, the current rate is 3% lower year-over-year (YoY), indicating sustained pricing pressure in one of the world’s most active container trade corridors.
The Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) serves as a robust benchmark for regional trade, calculated as a weighted average of actual spot container freight rates across 18 major trade routes within Asia. These routes connect critical ports, including Shanghai, Busan, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port. The index is reported in USD per 40ft container and is updated fortnightly to provide timely market transparency.
The decline to $487 highlights the competitive environment for carriers and shippers operating in the region and suggests an oversupply of capacity or cooling demand across key Asian manufacturing and distribution hubs. Drewry will continue to monitor the index closely in its forthcoming fortnightly updates.
