Container rates down for 14th straight week

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) fell six per cent for the week of Sept. 15-19 to US$1,913 per 40-ft container, marking the 14th consecutive week of decline.

After two weeks of moving in opposite directions, the major trade routes, Transpacific and Asia–Europe, are now aligned in a downwards trajectory, although each is moving at a different pace, Drewry indicated.

Transpacific spot rates have started declining again, slipping back to levels last seen at the start of September. The spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased four per cent to US$2,561 per 40-ft container, while those from Shanghai to New York fell five per cent to US$3,571. Despite a brief uptick, the momentum from general rate increases and blank sailings has now faded, which led to the reduction in rates.

Asia-Europe spot rates fell this week again, as rates declined 11 per cent to US$1,910 per 40-ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam and nine per cent to US$2,131 from Shanghai to Genoa. Drewry said this decline comes as carriers struggle to match increased capacity—due to new vessels entering the trade—with softening demand. As blank sailings increase ahead of China’s Golden Week holidays, which begin Oct. 1, Drewry expects rates to continue to decline in the upcoming weeks.

Drewry’s container forecaster expects the supply-demand balance to weaken again during the second half of 2025, which will cause spot rates to contract. The volatility and timing of rate changes will depend on U.S. President Donald Trump’s future tariffs and on capacity changes related to the introduction of U.S. penalties on Chinese ships, which are uncertain.