Drewry World Container Index

Data Shipping

Source: Drewry
Source Link: https://www.drewry.co.uk/
Frequency: Weekly
Next Release(s): October 16th, 2025 9:45 AM

Latest Updates

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) fell -1% WoW to $1,651 per 40-ft container, marking the 17th straight weekly decline and the lowest level since January 2024, reflecting continued softness in spot demand.
- Composite WCI: $1,651/40ft (-1% WoW). This is the 17th consecutive weekly drop and the lowest WCI since Jan-2024, underlining a persistent downtrend in spot rates.
- Shanghai to Los Angeles: $2,176/40ft (-1% WoW). Transpacific rates were relatively muted this week, with Golden Week seasonal slowdowns keeping volatility low.
- Shanghai to New York: $3,189/40ft (0% WoW). East-coast transpacific rates held steady, showing more resilience than Asia–Europe lanes during the holiday period.
- Shanghai to Rotterdam: $1,577/40ft (-2% WoW). Asia–Europe rates recorded their ninth straight weekly decline and are nearing pre-Red Sea attack levels, signaling broad weakness on this corridor.
- Shanghai to Genoa: $1,793/40ft (-1% WoW). Another weekly decline on Asia–Europe trade, consistent with the regional downtrend.
- Outlook: Drewry’s forecaster expects the supply-demand balance to weaken over the next few quarters, which should put further downward pressure on spot rates.
Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) declined -5% WoW to $1,669 per 40ft container, marking the 16th straight weekly drop and reaching its lowest level since January 2024.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates fell -5% WoW to $2,196/feu, extending losses ahead of China’s Golden Week factory closures.
- Shanghai–New York rates slipped -2% WoW to $3,200/feu, continuing the broader downward trend.
- Asia–Europe lanes weakened for the 10th consecutive week, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -7% WoW to $1,613/feu and Shanghai–Genoa down -9% WoW to $1,804/feu.
- Carriers have increased blank sailings and cut capacity to offset slowing demand, but rates continue to fall across major East–West trade routes.
- Drewry projects the supply–demand balance will deteriorate further in coming quarters, driving additional contraction in spot rates.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -8% WoW to $1,761 per 40ft container, marking the 15th consecutive weekly decline and reinforcing broad weakness across major trade lanes.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates dropped -10% WoW to $2,311/feu, giving back the brief September gains from GRIs and blank sailings.
- Shanghai–New York rates fell -8% WoW to $3,278/feu, continuing the downward trajectory seen in recent weeks.
- Asia–Europe routes also weakened, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -9% WoW to $1,735/feu and Shanghai–Genoa down -7% WoW to $1,990/feu.
- Carriers are actively cutting capacity ahead of China’s Golden Week, when factories will close for eight days, but demand softness is still weighing on freight levels.
- Drewry’s Container Forecaster projects the supply–demand balance will weaken further over the coming quarters, pressuring spot rates to contract further.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -6% WoW to $1,913 per 40ft container, marking the 14th straight weekly decline and highlighting continued weakness across major trade routes.
- Transpacific spot rates resumed their decline, with Shanghai–Los Angeles down -4% WoW to $2,561/feu and Shanghai–New York down -5% WoW to $3,571/feu, reversing the temporary gains from GRIs and blank sailings.
- Asia–Europe spot rates fell more sharply, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -11% WoW to $1,910/feu and Shanghai–Genoa down -9% WoW to $2,131/feu, reflecting oversupply from new vessel deliveries amid softening demand.
- The recent alignment of Transpacific and Asia–Europe rates in a downward trajectory underscores the broad-based deterioration in container shipping markets.
- Carriers are implementing more blank sailings ahead of China’s Golden Week starting October 1, but Drewry expects rates to continue declining in the coming weeks.
- Drewry’s Container Forecaster sees further weakness in 2H25, with risks tied to Trump’s tariff policies and possible U.S. penalties on Chinese vessels, both of which could add volatility to rates.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -3% WoW to $2,044 per 40ft container in early September 2025, marking the 13th consecutive weekly decline and reflecting diverging trends across trade lanes.
- Transpacific spot rates increased, with Shanghai–Los Angeles up +6% to $2,678/feu and Shanghai–New York up +2% to $3,743/feu, driven by carrier GRIs.
- Drewry noted these gains may not be sustained without further capacity cuts, especially with Golden Week holidays approaching.
- Asia–Europe routes weakened, as Shanghai–Rotterdam fell -10% to $2,143/feu and Shanghai–Genoa dropped -12% to $2,342/feu, pressured by oversupply from new vessel deliveries.
- Carriers are increasing blank sailings ahead of Golden Week, but Drewry still expects slight rate declines in the coming weeks.
- The broader outlook points to renewed weakness in 2H25, with risks tied to Trump’s tariff policy and possible U.S. penalties on Chinese ships.
Drewry’s World Container Index slipped -1% WoW to $2,104 per 40ft container in early September 2025, stabilizing after 11 consecutive weeks of decline.
- Transpacific spot rates rose sharply, with Shanghai–Los Angeles up +8% to $2,522/feu and Shanghai–New York up +12% to $3,677/feu, supported by carrier GRIs.
- Asia–Europe routes weakened, as Shanghai–Rotterdam fell -10% to $2,385/feu and Shanghai–Genoa dropped -7% to $2,653/feu, reflecting vessel oversupply despite strong demand and port delays.
- The mixed movements left the overall index stable, with upward pressure from transpacific gains offset by declines on Europe-bound routes.
- Drewry expects near-term stability, but sees a renewed weakening of the supply-demand balance in 2H25, with further downside risks from tariffs and potential U.S. penalties on Chinese ships.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -6% WoW to $2,119 per 40ft container, marking an 11th straight weekly decline as post-tariff volatility continues.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates dropped -3% to $2,332/feu, while Shanghai–New York fell -5% to $3,291/feu, reflecting weaker US retail demand after the early peak season.
- Asia–Europe routes also softened, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -10% to $2,661/feu and Shanghai–Genoa down -5% to $2,842/feu, as vessel oversupply outweighed solid demand and port delays.
- The rate slide follows a sharp May–June surge triggered by US tariffs, with declines persisting through July and into late August.
- Drewry expects further near-term weakness as the supply-demand balance deteriorates, with added uncertainty from potential new US tariffs and penalties on Chinese ships.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -4% WoW to $2,250 per 40ft container, marking a tenth straight weekly decline as post-tariff volatility continues to ease.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates dropped -3% to $2,412/feu, while Shanghai–New York fell -5% to $3,463/feu, reflecting weaker US retail demand after an early peak season.
- Asia–Europe rates also declined, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -6% to $2,973/feu and Shanghai–Genoa down -3% to $2,978/feu, as vessel oversupply outweighed solid demand and port delays.
- The recent rate downtrend began after US tariffs triggered a May–June surge, followed by a sharp decline until mid-July; losses have since slowed.
- Drewry expects spot rates to remain less volatile in the near term but sees renewed downward pressure in 2H25 as supply-demand dynamics weaken.
Drewry’s World Container Index fell -3% WoW to $2,350 per 40ft container, marking a ninth straight weekly decline as the post–tariff surge in rates continues to unwind.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates fell -2% to $2,494/feu, while Shanghai–New York rates dropped -5% to $3,638/feu.
- The recent downtrend began in mid-June after a sharp tariff-driven spike from May to early June.
- Drewry expects spot rates to remain less volatile in the near term but sees renewed downward pressure in 2H25 as the supply-demand balance weakens.
- Future rate movements hinge on additional US tariffs and possible penalties on Chinese ships, which could alter capacity dynamics.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -3% WoW to $2,424 for the 8th straight week, continuing a post-tariff cooldown in spot rates. The index is now down -56% YoY.
- Shanghai–New York dropped -7% WoW to $3,826 and is down -57% YoY; Shanghai–Los Angeles fell -4% WoW and -81% YoY to $2,534.
- Rates also declined on Shanghai–Genoa (-4% WoW), Shanghai–Rotterdam (-2%), and New York–Rotterdam (-3%).
- Eastbound transatlantic and backhaul routes held steady: Rotterdam–New York and Los Angeles–Shanghai were flat WoW and slightly positive YoY.
- Durable gains held in transatlantic lanes: New York–Rotterdam is up +11% YoY, and Rotterdam–New York +1% YoY.
- Drewry expects further rate weakness in H2 2025 due to a looser supply-demand balance and uncertainty over future US-China tariffs.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -1% WoW to $2,499 per 40ft container in the week ending July 31, 2025, as the post-tariff freight rush continues to fade and market conditions stabilize.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates dropped -2% WoW to $2,632, and Shanghai–New York also declined -2% to $4,135.
- The composite index is now down -56% YoY, with Shanghai–Rotterdam (-60%) and Shanghai–Genoa (-56%) seeing some of the steepest annual declines.
- Transatlantic routes held steadier: New York–Rotterdam was unchanged WoW and up 14% YoY, while Rotterdam–New York slipped -1% WoW but is still up 3% YoY.
- With the US tariff pause set to expire mid-August, carriers are cutting sailings; Drewry expects rates to remain less volatile near term, but risks of renewed weakness persist into H2 2025.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -3.3% WoW to $2,517 per 40ft container in the week ending July 24, 2025, marking its sixth straight weekly decline and continued reversal from the June tariff surge.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates dropped -5% WoW to $2,675, while Shanghai–New York fell -7% to $4,210.
- The post-tariff cargo rush has faded, prompting carriers to cancel transpacific sailings.
- Drewry forecasts continued spot rate declines into H2 2025 as supply-demand imbalances reemerge.
- Future rate trends remain volatile due to uncertainty over US tariffs and potential shipping penalties on Chinese vessels.