Drewry, a leading independent maritime research consultancy, today announced that its Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) rose by 6% in the first half of December 2025, reaching $709 per 40ft container.
This uptick represents a modest recovery, though the index remains significantly lower than the previous year. The current IACI stands 24% lower year-over-year (YoY), reflecting the broader market adjustments seen across global container shipping.
Recent Performance: The IACI climbed from its late-November level to hit $709 per 40ft container in the first two weeks of December.
Near-Term Stability: Drewry projects that Intra-Asia freight rates will likely remain stable for the remainder of December. This stability is attributed to the typical seasonal slowdown as the peak Christmas shipping demand begins to subside.
January Strengthening: Looking ahead, Drewry anticipates that rates will strengthen in January 2026. This expected rise is driven by a combination of factors, including tighter capacity and an extended peak season as the industry prepares for the Lunar New Year holiday period.
“The 6% rise in the first half of December offers a slight positive signal in the short term,” said a Drewry analyst. “However, the market is quickly entering a seasonal lull. Our focus is on the upcoming January spike, where we expect capacity constraints to exert upward pressure on spot rates across key intra-Asia routes.”
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) is a benchmark for actual spot container freight rates across major intra-Asia trade routes.
The IACI is a weighted average of spot rates across 18 major trade routes within Asia. The Index is updated fortnightly. All indices are reported in USD per 40ft container.
The 18 trade routes tracked by the IACI include major lanes connecting:
Busan, South Korea; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva), India; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Laem Chabang, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Shanghai, China (as a major hub); Singapore; Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Yokohama, Japan; and Jebel Ali, UAE.
