DREWRY’s World Container Index has increased by 6% to US$3533 per 40-foot container this week.
This is 66% below the previous pandemic peak of US$10,377 in September 2021, but 149% more than the average US$1420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
The average YTD composite index is US$3958 per feu, which is US$1104 higher than the 10-year average of US$2854 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).
Freight rates from Shanghai to Genoa surged 22% or US$1006 to US$5496 per FEU and those from Shanghai to Rotterdam spiked 19% or US$778 to US$4775 per FEU.
Likewise, rates from New York to Rotterdam inched up 2% or US$18 to US$807 per FEU while those from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 12% or US$531 to US$3719 per FEU.
Similarly, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai and Rotterdam to New York reduced 1% to US$514 and US$2649 per FEU, respectively whereas those from Los Angeles to Shanghai and Shanghai to New York remained stable.
Drewry expects an increase in rates on the Transpacific trade in the coming week due to the looming ILA port strike in January 2025 and the anticipated rush to ship goods before the strike begins.
