Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) increased three per cent to US$3,905 per 40-ft container for the first week of 2025.
The WCI composite index starts the new year at 62% below the previous pandemic peak of US$10,377 in September 2021 but 175% more than the average US$1,420 in 2019.
The average year-to-date composite index is US$3,905 per 40-ft container, US$1,040 higher than the 10-year average of US$2,865, which was inflated by the COVID-19 period.
Freight rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased seven per cent to US$4,829 per 40-ft container, while rates from Shanghai to New York rose six per cent to US$6,445. Rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai and New York to Rotterdam increased two per cent to US$516 and US$838 per 40-ft container, respectively.
On the other hand, rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam dropped one per cent to US$4,774, and rates from Shanghai to Genoa, Los Angeles to Shanghai and Rotterdam to New York remained stable.
Drewry expects rates on the Transpacific trade to rise in the coming week, driven by front-loading ahead of a potential International Longshormens’ Association (ILA) port strike in January and the anticipated tariff hikes under the incoming Trump Administration.
Image credit: Depositphotos.com
Leave a Reply