Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 4% to $2,168 per 40ft container for the week of 27 March.
Source: Drewry World Container Index
This is 79% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 and the lowest since January 2024.
However, the index was 53% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
The average YTD composite index closed at $3,053 per 40ft container, $167 higher than the 10-year average of $2,886 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).
Freight rates from Rotterdam to New York decreased 7% or $154 to $2,162 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles fell 6% or $171 to $2,487 per 40ft container.
Rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam and Shanghai to New York decreased 4% to $2,370 and $3,622 per 40ft container, respectively, while those from Shanghai to Genoa reduced 3% or $115 to $3,171 per 40ft container.
Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai increased 3% or $16 to $500 per 40ft container and those from Los Angeles to Shanghai increased 1% or $7 to $709 per 40ft container.
Meanwhile, rates from New York to Rotterdam remained stable. Drewry expects rates to decrease slightly in the upcoming weeks.
