The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) climbed 12% this week to $2,182 per 40ft container, marking the third consecutive week of growth. This upward trajectory is fueled by significant rate recoveries on major Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade lanes, signaling a robust end to the 2025 shipping year.
Following a brief dip in early December that saw spot rates hit their second-lowest levels since the start of the year, the Transpacific market has bounced back sharply. Key highlights include:
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Shanghai to New York: Rates surged 19% to reach $3,293 per 40ft container.
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Shanghai to Los Angeles: Rates rose 18% to $2,474 per 40ft container.
This recovery is supported by strategic capacity management. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, carriers have announced 10 blank sailings for the coming week on the Transpacific trade lane to balance supply with shifting demand.
The Asia–Europe trade route continues its three-week streak of stability and growth, driven by a structural shift in seasonal shipping patterns.
| Route | Rate Increase | Current Spot Rate (per 40ft) |
| Shanghai to Genoa | 10% | $3,314 |
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | 8% | $2,539 |
Drewry analysts attribute this strength to the “new normal” of year-end volumes. Over the past three years, December has consistently seen double-digit month-on-month demand growth.
The market is currently benefiting from an early wave of bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year in February 2026. As shippers move to secure space, Drewry anticipates that the momentum will carry into the final weeks of the year.
“We are seeing a convergence of strong seasonal demand and proactive capacity adjustments by carriers,” a Drewry spokesperson noted. “With early bookings for the 2026 Lunar New Year already appearing on the books, we expect a further slight increase in rates in the upcoming week.”
