The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) has reported a significant uptick this week, rising 12 percent to reach $2,182 per 40ft container, marking the third consecutive weekly increase. This surge comes after rates briefly declined to near their second-lowest levels since January 2025, highlighting the volatility and seasonal dynamics of global container shipping. Analysts attribute the rebound to rate hikes on both Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade routes, driven in part by early bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year in February 2026 and a series of blank sailings scheduled for the coming week.
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On the Transpacific headhaul, spot rates from Shanghai to New York climbed 19 percent to $3,293 per 40ft container, while rates to Los Angeles increased 18 percent to $2,474 per 40ft. Meanwhile, Asia–Europe routes saw similarly strong growth, with Shanghai to Genoa rising 10 percent to $3,314 per 40ft and Shanghai to Rotterdam up 8 percent to $2,539 per 40ft. Drewry notes that the stability and upward trajectory of these rates over the past three weeks reflect a shift in seasonal patterns, establishing strong year-end volumes as the 'new normal.'
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More information:
Drewry
www.drewry.co.uk
