Drewry World Container Index - 01 May

For many years, World Container Index has been the go-to, independent, global reference for index-linked contracts. If your organisation is considering index-linked contracts or requires regional visibility/coverage beyond the eight trade lanes provided below, or would like to learn more, please contact our team of ocean freight cost benchmarking and procurement specialists.

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $2,091 per 40ft container this week.

Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 01 May 2025

• The Drewry WCI composite index decreased 3% to $2,091 per 40ft csontainer, 80% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021. However, the index was 47% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• The average YTD composite index closed at $2,811 per 40ft container, $82 lower than the 10-year average of $2,893 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).

• Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased 5% or $110 to $2,202 per 40ft container and those from Rotterdam to Shanghai and Shanghai to Genoa decreased 4% to $464 and $2,889 per 40ft container, respectively. Following the trend, rates from Shanghai to New York and Rotterdam to New York decreased 3% to $3,500 and $2,041 per 40ft container, respectively. Also, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai decreased 2% or $16 to $689 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles reduced 1% or $27 to $2,590 per 40ft container while rates from New York to Rotterdam increased 2% or $17 to $842 per 40ft container. Drewry expects rates to continue declining in the coming week due to uncertainty stemming from reciprocal tariffs.

Spot freight rates by major route

Our assessment across eight major East-West trades: