Drewry: World Container Index - Sept 11, 2025

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, contact our ocean freight cost benchmarking team.

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $2,044 per 40ft container this week.

Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 11 Sep 2025

• The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) fell 3% to $2,044 per 40ft container, marking the 13th consecutive week of decline. For the second week in a row, spot rates on major trade lanes followed opposing trends. While freight rates on Transpacific trade lanes increased, those on Asia–Europe decreased.
• Transpacific spot rates are on the rise due to GRI announcements by several carriers. Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 6% to $2,678 per feu, while those from Shanghai to New York jumped 2% to $3,743 per feu. Despite the upcoming Golden Week holidays in China, it is unlikely that these rates will be sustained without further cuts to shipping capacity. Hence, Drewry expects rates to remain stable in the upcoming weeks.
• Asia–Europe spot rates fell this week, as rates declined on Shanghai–Rotterdam by 10% ($2,143/feu) and on Shanghai–Genoa by 12% ($2,342/feu). This decline comes as carriers struggle to match increased capacity—due to new vessels entering the trade—with softening demand. With the rise in blank sailings ahead of China’s Golden Week holidays, which begins on 1 October, Drewry expects rates to decrease slightly in the upcoming weeks.
• Drewry’s Container Forecaster expects the supply-demand balance to weaken again in 2H25, which will cause spot rates to contract. The volatility and timing of rate changes will depend on Trump’s future tariffs and on capacity changes related to the introduction of US penalties on Chinese ships, which are uncertain.

Spot freight rates by major route

Our assessment across eight major East-West trades:

Source: Drewry Supply Chain Advisors

WCI Methodology

Ocean spot market freight rates against 6,700 global port pairs

If you need spot market container freight rate information on other routes to those above, find out more about our Container Freight Rate Insight (CFRI) online service, which covers 6,700 global port pairs updated monthly (2,450 updated fortnightly).