Drewry World Container Index

Data Shipping

Source: Drewry
Source Link: https://www.drewry.co.uk/
Frequency: Weekly
Next Release(s): March 19th, 2026 9:45 AM

Latest Updates

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) increased 8% to $2,123 per 40ft container, mainly due to a sharp rise in rates on the Asia–Europe route, alongside gains on the Transpacific route. Notably, while double-digit growth was observed on the Transpacific route last week, the Asia–Europe route recorded a double-digit increase this week.
- Spot rates on the Shanghai–Rotterdam trade route increased 19% to $2,443 per 40ft container and those on Shanghai–Genoa increased 10% to $3,120 per 40ft container. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, only 5 blank sailings have been announced on the Asia–Europe trade route next week. Meanwhile, several carriers such as MSC and CMA CGM have announced higher FAK rates effective 22 March. As carriers continue to manage capacity while implementing rate increases, Drewry expects spot rates to rise further in the coming weeks.
- Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 4% to $2,503 per 40ft container, while those from Shanghai to New York increased 3% to $3,080 per 40ft container. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, 7 blank sailings have been announced for the next week on the Transpacific East and West Coast trade routes. Meanwhile, the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to affect global supply chains, supporting higher freight rates in the short term. Drewry thus expects spot rates on this trade to increase in the coming weeks.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) increased +3% WoW to $1,958 per 40ft container, reflecting stronger Transpacific shipping rates while Asia–Europe routes remained under pressure.
- The WCI rose +3% WoW to $1,958 per container, with the increase primarily driven by higher spot rates on Transpacific trade routes.
- Asia–Europe shipping rates remained weaker, with Shanghai–Rotterdam declining -2% to $2,052 per container and Shanghai–Genoa increasing only +1% to $2,844, indicating continued pressure on pricing along these routes.
- Transpacific rates strengthened notably, with Shanghai–Los Angeles increasing +10% to $2,402 and Shanghai–New York rising +7% to $2,977 per container, reflecting improving pricing conditions on these routes.
- Carriers have announced only four blank sailings for next week on Transpacific East and West Coast routes, significantly fewer than the current week as Asian factories resume production after the Lunar New Year.
- On Asia–Europe routes, only four cancelled sailings have been scheduled for the next two weeks, as carriers begin adding capacity ahead of the seasonal rebound in shipping volumes typically seen in March.
- Drewry expects spot rates on both Asia–Europe and Transpacific routes to increase in the coming weeks as manufacturing activity in Asia continues to normalize after the holiday period.
- Geopolitical tensions involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have effectively frozen tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil supply, raising crude oil prices and potentially increasing bunker fuel costs and freight rates.
The Drewry WCI fell -1% WoW to $1,899 per container, the seventh straight weekly decline.
- Shanghai–Rotterdam rates declined -1% to $2,094 and Shanghai–Genoa fell -2% to $2,826, continuing weakness on Asia–Europe routes.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates decreased -1% to $2,191 while Shanghai–New York held at $2,771, indicating mixed Transpacific pricing.
- Nine blank sailings were announced for next week on Transpacific routes, fewer than the current week as factories resume production after CNY.
- Rates typically rebound in March as Asian factories reopen, but rising capacity is expected to keep spot prices under pressure.
- Drewry expects Transpacific rates to remain stable next week despite recent declines.
- Policy discussion of a 10% global tariff rising to 15% signals additional trade policy uncertainty affecting shipping conditions.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -1% WoW to $1,919 per 40ft container, extending declines amid broad route weakness.
- Shanghai to New York spot rates declined -1% WoW to $2,782, while Shanghai to Los Angeles held flat at $2,219, indicating uneven conditions across Transpacific lanes.
- Carriers announced 31 blank sailings for next week on Transpacific East and West Coast routes, far above prior years, reflecting active capacity management to stabilize pricing.
- Shanghai–Rotterdam rates fell -1% WoW to $2,109 and Shanghai–Genoa declined -2% WoW to $2,895, continuing the downward trend on Asia–Europe trades.
- Eight blank sailings were scheduled on the Asia–Europe/Med route due to volatility and CNY factory closures, signaling supply adjustments in response to weaker demand.
- Spot rates peaked earlier than usual ahead of CNY and are now falling, running counter to the typical seasonal pre-holiday firming pattern.
- Drewry expects further modest declines across both Transpacific and Asia–Europe routes if normal seasonal patterns persist, reinforcing the soft market backdrop.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -1% WoW to $1,933 per 40ft container, marking a fifth consecutive weekly decline amid softening global freight demand.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates declined -1% WoW to $2,214 per 40ft container, while Shanghai–New York fell -1% WoW to $2,800, reflecting weaker Transpacific volumes linked to low cargo demand.
- Carriers announced 57 blank sailings over the next two weeks on Transpacific East and West Coast routes, significantly higher than in previous years, signaling active capacity management ahead of factory closures.
- Shanghai–Rotterdam rates dropped -2% WoW to $2,127 and Shanghai–Genoa declined -3% WoW to $2,965, extending losses on Asia–Europe lanes amid ongoing market volatility.
- On the Asia–Europe/Med trade route, 24 blank sailings were announced over the next two weeks, indicating further supply adjustments in response to weak demand and CNY-related disruptions.
- Spot rates peaked earlier than usual this year and are now falling sharply, contrary to typical pre-CNY seasonal firming, suggesting weaker-than-expected demand conditions.
- Drewry expects spot rates on both Transpacific and Asia–Europe routes to decline slightly in the coming weeks if normal seasonal patterns continue, reinforcing the current soft market backdrop.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -7% WoW to $1,959 per 40ft container, marking a fourth straight weekly decline amid weakening global freight demand, driven mainly by lower spot rates across the Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade routes.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates declined -8% WoW to $2,239 per container, indicating renewed softness on the U.S. West Coast lane.
- Shanghai–New York rates fell -5% WoW to $2,819, showing continued weakening on the Transpacific East Coast route.
- Asia–Europe rates extended losses for a fourth consecutive week, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -9% WoW to $2,164 and Shanghai–Genoa down -7% WoW to $3,048.
- The usual pre–Lunar New Year shipping surge failed to materialise in 2026, contributing to weaker demand conditions across major routes.
- Carriers announced elevated blank sailings over the next three weeks (18, 27, and 28 on Transpacific routes; 9, 16, and 9 on Asia–Europe routes), reflecting aggressive capacity management amid soft volumes.
- Drewry noted spot rates are expected to decrease further in coming weeks as factory closures and market volatility persist.
The Drewry World Container Index fell -5% WoW to $2,107 per 40ft container, extending a third straight weekly decline amid broad route softness.
- The composite WCI declined -5% WoW to $2,107, driven mainly by falling Transpacific and Asia–Europe spot rates.
- Shanghai–New York spot rates dropped -7% WoW to $2,969, indicating renewed weakness on the Transpacific East Coast lane.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates fell -4% WoW to $2,442, contributing further to the overall index decline.
- Asia–Europe routes continued to soften for a third week, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -5% WoW to $2,379 and Shanghai–Genoa down -6% WoW to $3,293.
- Carriers announced 63 blank sailings in February (vs 27 in January), reflecting active capacity cuts as demand remains weak ahead of Chinese New Year closures.
- Divergent Suez strategies emerged, with CMA CGM withdrawing Asia–Europe services while Maersk plans to resume India–U.S. East Coast service via the canal, pointing to uneven capacity adjustments.
- Effective capacity is described as returning gradually through a “drip-feed” approach, aimed at moderating the pace of spot-rate declines.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) fell -10% WoW to $2,212 per 40ft container, reflecting a broad pullback in Transpacific and Asia–Europe spot rates.
- The composite WCI declined -10% WoW for a second straight week to $2,212, as falling rates across major routes outweighed any near-term support from capacity management.
- Shanghai–New York spot rates dropped -11% WoW to $3,191 per 40ft container, pointing to renewed softness on the Transpacific.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates fell -12% WoW to $2,546, another large weekly decline that contributed to the overall index drop.
- Asia–Europe rates also weakened for a second week, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -9% WoW to $2,510 and Shanghai–Genoa down -8% WoW to $3,520.
- Carriers increased blank sailings to offset demand softening after the end of the Chinese New Year cargo rush, signaling active capacity responses to weaker spot conditions.
- Drewry expects freight rates to decline further in coming weeks, implying continued downward pressure under the current demand backdrop.
- Carrier routing strategies diverged: CMA CGM is shifting three Asia–Europe services from Suez to the Cape route, while Maersk plans to resume India to U.S. East Coast service via Suez starting Jan 26.
- The uneven return of Suez-linked capacity is characterized as a gradual “drip-feed,” intended to avoid a sharp spot-rate reset from capacity reintroduction.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) fell -4% WoW to $2,445 per 40ft container, reflecting softer pricing on major Transpacific and Asia–Europe lanes.
- The composite WCI declined from $2,557 to $2,445 WoW (-4%) and remained down -37% YoY, indicating rates are still substantially lower than last year despite recent volatility.
- Shanghai–New York spot rates fell -10% WoW to $3,568 per 40ft container, marking one of the sharpest weekly drops among the major routes.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates declined -7% WoW to $2,909, also contributing meaningfully to the overall index pullback.
- Drewry noted carriers were unable to sustain higher rates due to weak demand, even as Chinese New Year factory shutdowns expected in mid-February were putting upward pressure on spot pricing.
- Asia–Europe lanes were also lower, with Shanghai–Rotterdam down -3% WoW to $2,763 and Shanghai–Genoa down -1% WoW to $3,839, showing modest easing relative to last week’s levels.
- Ocean carriers reportedly put plans to resume Red Sea transits on hold amid escalating protests in Iran and risk of direct U.S. military intervention, which Drewry said continues to drive regional volatility.
The Drewry World Container Index jumped +16% WoW to $2,557 per 40ft container, marking a sharp early-January spike driven by carrier rate hikes on major Asia–Europe and Transpacific routes.
- The composite WCI rose from $2,213 to $2,557 WoW (+16%) but remained down -36% YoY, highlighting a strong short-term move within a still-lower annual pricing environment.
- Shanghai–Genoa spot rates increased +13% WoW to $3,885 and Shanghai–Rotterdam rose +10% WoW to $2,840, reflecting higher FAK rates implemented by carriers on Asia–Europe lanes.
- Transpacific routes posted the largest gains, with Shanghai–Los Angeles surging +26% WoW to $3,132 and Shanghai–New York up +20% WoW to $3,957, indicating aggressive near-term pricing actions.
- Backhaul routes saw more modest changes: Rotterdam–Shanghai increased +3% WoW to $504, while Los Angeles–Shanghai edged up +1% WoW to $721, showing limited spillover to eastbound pricing.
- Capacity expanded 7–10% MoM on Asia–North America routes and 5–7% MoM on Asia–North Europe and Mediterranean routes in January, suggesting rising supply alongside the rate increases.
- Anecdotal evidence pointed to soft Asia–US volumes, indicating the outsized spot rate jumps appear opportunistic and may prove temporary rather than demand-driven.
The Drewry World Container Index rose +1% WoW to $2,213 per 40ft container, extending a fourth straight weekly gain amid firm Asia–Europe and Transpacific pricing.
- The composite WCI increased from $2,182 to $2,213 (+1% WoW), continuing a gradual late-December uptrend in global spot rates.
- Shanghai–Genoa spot rates climbed +3% WoW to $3,427, marking continued strength on the Asia–Mediterranean lane.
- Shanghai–Rotterdam rates rose +2% WoW to $2,584, with Asia–Europe prices stable or rising for a fourth consecutive week.
- Drewry noted Asia–Europe rate resilience reflects a shift in seasonal patterns, with December showing double-digit MoM demand growth in each of the past three years.
- Early bookings ahead of the February 2026 Lunar New Year were cited as supporting current rate levels on Asia–Europe routes.
- Shanghai–New York rates were unchanged at $3,302 WoW, following last week’s double-digit increase, indicating a pause after recent gains.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates also held steady at $2,481 WoW, with Drewry expecting Transpacific spot rates to remain broadly stable next week.
The Drewry World Container Index rose +12% WoW to $2,182 per 40ft container, marking a third consecutive weekly increase and reflecting a broad-based rebound across major trade lanes.
- The composite WCI increased from $1,957 to $2,182 WoW (+12%) but remained down -43% YoY, underscoring a sharp weekly rebound within a still-normalized annual backdrop.
- Shanghai–New York spot rates jumped +19% WoW to $3,293, indicating a strong recovery on the Transpacific East Coast headhaul after last week’s pullback.
- Shanghai–Los Angeles rates rose +18% WoW to $2,474, showing a similar rebound on the Transpacific West Coast route amid announced capacity reductions.
- Drewry reported 10 blank sailings scheduled for next week on the Transpacific lane, suggesting capacity management alongside the rate recovery.
- Shanghai–Genoa rates climbed +10% WoW to $3,314, extending recent gains and remaining one of the strongest-performing Asia–Europe routes.
- Shanghai–Rotterdam increased +8% WoW to $2,539, with Asia–Europe rates holding stable or rising for a third consecutive week.
- Drewry noted that December has delivered double-digit MoM demand growth for three straight years, with early bookings ahead of the February 2026 Lunar New Year supporting expectations for further modest rate increases next week.