Drewry World Container Index - 27 March

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 4% to $2,168 per 40ft container this week.

Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 27 March 2025

• The Drewry WCI composite index fell 4% to $2,168 per 40ft container, 79% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 and the lowest since January 2024. However, the index was 53% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• The average YTD composite index closed at $3,053 per 40ft container, $167 higher than the 10-year average of $2,886 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).

• Freight rates from Rotterdam to New York decreased 7% or $154 to $2,162 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles fell 6% or $171 to $2,487 per 40ft container. Rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam and Shanghai to New York decreased 4% to $2,370 and $3,622 per 40ft container, respectively, while those from Shanghai to Genoa reduced 3% or $115 to $3,171 per 40ft container. Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai increased 3% or $16 to $500 per 40ft container and those from Los Angeles to Shanghai increased 1% or $7 to $709 per 40ft container. Meanwhile, rates from New York to Rotterdam remained stable. Drewry expects rates to decrease slightly in the upcoming weeks.

Spot freight rates by major route

Our assessment across eight major East-West trades: