The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) surged 12% this week to $2,553 per 40ft container, driven by sharp freight rate increases across major Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade routes.
A combination of aggressive carrier surcharges, capacity management strategies, and escalating geopolitical anxieties is fueling the sudden rally, with Drewry forecasting further rate hikes in the coming week.
On the Transpacific route, carriers successfully pushed rates upward through the implementation of Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) and Peak Season Surcharges (PSS).
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Shanghai to New York: Increased 14% to $4,252 per 40ft container.
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Shanghai to Los Angeles: Rose 10% to $3,357 per 40ft container.
To tightly manage available capacity, carriers have announced seven blank sailings on the Transpacific route for the upcoming week. Additionally, Yang Ming Line has announced a General Rate Increase (GRI) of $2,000 per 40ft container, effective May 15, signaling continued upward pressure on transpacific freight costs.
The Asia–Europe trade lane experienced even sharper spikes, propelled by new Freight All Kinds (FAK) marketing rates and aggressive carrier capacity cuts.
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Shanghai to Genoa: Jumped 20% to $3,701 per 40ft container.
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Shanghai to Rotterdam: Increased 11% to $2,413 per 40ft container.
The traditional Asia-Europe peak season is arriving earlier than usual this year. Spurred by rising cargo bookings, tightening vessel space, and logistics disruptions linked to the ongoing US/Israel-Iran conflict, shippers are proactively moving cargo ahead of schedule to secure space. Drewry anticipates this rebounding demand will drive rates higher next week.
| Route | Current Rate (per 40ft) | Weekly Change (%) |
| Composite Index (WCI) | $2,553 | +12% |
| Shanghai to Genoa | $3,701 | +20% |
| Shanghai to New York | $4,252 | +14% |
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | $2,413 | +11% |
| Shanghai to Los Angeles | $3,357 | +10% |
The global maritime market remains on high alert as tensions persist around critical maritime chokepoints, specifically the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Carriers are maintaining a highly cautious stance on routing and daily operations due to the volatile US/Israel-Iran conflict.
While vessel movements have remained relatively stable, the market is being kept artificially firm. Higher bunker fuel prices and restricted vessel space are providing strong foundational support for these elevated rates. Moving forward, ocean carriers are expected to continue actively adjusting their pricing through EFS, PSS, GRI, and firmer FAK levels, paired with strategic blank sailings to keep global supply chains tight.
