Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 7% to $2,368 per 40ft container this week

The Drewry WCI composite index decreased 7% to $2,368 per 40ft container,
The index is now 77% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 and the lowest since January 2024. However, the index was 67% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
The average YTD composite index closed at $3,205 per 40ft container, $321 higher than the 10-year average of $2,884 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).
Freight rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 8% or $260 to $2,906 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to New York declined 7% or $282 to $4,038 per 40ft container.
Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai increased 1% to $490 per 40ft container and those from Rotterdam to New York increased 1% to $2,373 per 40ft container.
However, rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam dropped 5% or $124 to $2,512 per 40ft container and those from New York to Rotterdam rose 1% to $854 per 40ft container. Rates from Shanghai to Genoa decreased this week by 11% or $412 to $3,333 per 40ft container, whereas rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai remained stable.
Drewry expects rates to decrease next week due to increased shipping capacity.