Drewry: World Container Index Down 3% Last Week

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Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $2,091 per 40ft container this week.

Drewry’s detailed assessment for Thursday, 01 May 2025

• The Drewry WCI composite index decreased 3% to $2,091 per 40ft container, 80% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021. However, the index was 47% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
• The average YTD composite index closed at $2,811 per 40ft container, $82 lower than the 10-year average of $2,893 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).
• Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased 5% or $110 to $2,202 per 40ft container and those from Rotterdam to Shanghai and Shanghai to Genoa decreased 4% to $464 and $2,889 per 40ft container, respectively. Following the trend, rates from Shanghai to New York and Rotterdam to New York decreased 3% to $3,500 and $2,041 per 40ft container, respectively. Also, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai decreased 2% or $16 to $689 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles reduced 1% or $27 to $2,590 per 40ft container while rates from New York to Rotterdam increased 2% or $17 to $842 per 40ft container. Drewry expects rates to continue declining in the coming week due to uncertainty stemming from reciprocal tariffs.