Global container shipping rates increased this week, with Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) rising 3% to $1,958 per 40-foot container, driven mainly by higher prices on Transpacific routes.
© Ian Whitworth | Dreamstime
Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles climbed 10% to $2,402, while shipments from Shanghai to New York increased 7% to $2,977 per container. In contrast, the Asia–Europe trade lane remained under pressure, with rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam falling 2% to $2,052, while Shanghai to Genoa edged up 1% to $2,844.
Drewry expects rates to increase further in the coming weeks as Asian factories resume production after the Chinese New Year, boosting shipping volumes. Carriers are already preparing to add capacity, with only a limited number of cancelled sailings reported.
However, the report warns that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could significantly affect freight costs. Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for roughly 20% of global oil supply.
If disruptions continue, rising oil prices, bunker fuel costs, war-risk insurance premiums and operational disruptions could push container shipping rates higher across global trade routes.
© Drewry
More information:
Drewry
www.drewry.co.uk
