The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) composite rose by 2%, reaching $2,208 per 40-foot container. This figure remains 79% lower than the pandemic peak of $10,377 recorded in September 2021. However, it marks a 55% increase compared to the pre-pandemic average of $1,420 in 2019.
Year-to-date (YTD), the composite index averaged $2,993 per 40-foot container, exceeding the 10-year average of $2,887 by $105—a figure notably influenced by the extraordinary conditions of the 2020–22 Covid period.
Freight Rate Highlights by Trade Route:
- Shanghai to Los Angeles: Rates surged by 10% ($239) to $2,726 per 40-foot container.
- Shanghai to New York: Rates climbed 8% ($272) to $3,894 per 40-foot container.
- Rotterdam to Shanghai: Rates dropped 7% ($34) to $466 per 40-foot container.
- Shanghai to Genoa: Rates fell 4% ($140) to $3,031 per 40-foot container.
- Shanghai to Rotterdam: Rates dipped 3% ($66) to $2,304 per 40-foot container.
- New York to Rotterdam: Rates declined 2%, settling at $831 per 40-foot container.
- Rotterdam to New York: Rates also decreased by 2%, now at $2,124 per 40-foot container.
- Los Angeles to Shanghai: A slight reduction of 1% ($4) brought rates to $705 per 40-foot container.
The Transpacific trade lane reversed its months-long trend of declining week-on-week spot rates, largely attributed to recent sailing cancellations. Additionally, the tariffs announced by former President Trump yesterday are expected to introduce increased volatility to spot freight rates.
