Drewry World Container Index - 02 Jan

Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 02 January 2025

• The Drewry WCI composite index increased 3% to $3,905 per 40ft container, 62% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 but 175% more than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• The average YTD composite index is $3,905 per 40ft container, $1,040 higher than the 10-year average of $2,865 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).

• Freight rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 7% or $330 to $4,829 per 40ft container. Similarly, rates from Shanghai to New York rose 6% or $371 to $6,445 per 40ft container. Likewise, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai and New York to Rotterdam increased 2% to $516 and $838 per 40ft container, respectively. Conversely, rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased 1% or $45 to $4,774 per 40ft container. Meanwhile, 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 the looming ILA port strike in January 2025 and the anticipated tariff hikes under the incoming Trump Administration.

Spot freight rates by major route

Our assessment across eight major East-West trades: