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.