DREWRY’S World Container Index continued its steady increase this past week.
A 4% increase to US$5318 per 40-foot container this week puts the index 256% higher than it was in the same week last year.
The composite index is now 49% below the previous pandemic peak of US$10,377 in September 2021, but it is 274% more than average 2019 (pre-pandemic) rates of US$1420.
The average composite index for the year-to-date is US$3579 per 40-foot container, which is US$831 higher than the 10-year average rate of US$2748 (which was inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 covid period).
Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam increased 7% or US$455 to US$7322 per 40-foot container.
Likewise, rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles and Shanghai to New York rose 4% to US$6673 and $7827 per 40-foot box respectively.
Similarly, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai, Shanghai to Genoa and New York to Rotterdam grew 1% to US$676, US$7102 and US$640 per FEU respectively.
Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to New York decreased 2% or US$49 to US$2044 per 40-foot container.
Meanwhile, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai remain stable.
Drewry expects minor increase in freight rates due to congestion at Asian ports.
