Drewry: World Container Index down 7% Last Week

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Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 7% to $2,368 per 40ft container this week.

Drewry’s detailed assessment for Thursday, 13 March 2025

• The Drewry WCI composite index fell 7% to $2,368 per 40ft container, 77% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 and the lowest since January 2024. However, the index was 67% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).
• The average YTD composite index closed at $3,205 per 40ft container, $321 higher than the 10-year average of $2,884 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).
• Freight rates from Shanghai to Genoa decreased 11% or $412 to $3,333 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles fell 8% or $260 to $2,906 per 40ft container. Similarly, rates from Shanghai to New York reduced 7% or $282 to $4,038 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Rotterdam dropped 5% or $124 to $2,512 per 40ft container. Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai, New York to Rotterdam and Rotterdam to New York increased 1% to $490, $854 and $2,373 per 40ft container. Meanwhile, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai remained stable. Drewry expects rates to recede from next week as shipping capacity increases.

Source: Drewry