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World Container Index - 25 Sep
For many years, World Container Index has been the go-to, independent, global reference for index-linked contracts. If your organisation is considering index-linked contracts or requires regional visibility/coverage beyond the eight trade lanes provided below, contact our ocean freight cost benchmarking team.
Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 8% to $1,761 per 40ft container this week.
Drewry World Container Index (US$/40ft)
WCI Trade Routes from Shanghai (US$/40ft)
Source: Drewry World Container Index, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 25 Sep 2025
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) fell 8% to $1,761 per 40ft container, marking the 15th consecutive week of decline with rates on major trade routes—Transpacific and Asia–Europe—also trending downwards.
Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 10% to $2,311 per 40ft container, while those from Shanghai to New York decreased 8% to $3,278 per 40ft container. Despite a brief uptick in early September, the momentum from GRIs and blank sailings has now subsided, which has led to the reduction in rates.
Asia–Europe spot rates fell this week again, as rates declined 9% ($1,735 per 40ft container) on Shanghai–Rotterdam and 7% ($1,990 per 40ft container) on Shanghai–Genoa. Ocean carriers are reducing capacity to align with slowing demand ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday, when factories will be shut for eight days from 1 October. As a result, freight rates are expected to continue declining in the coming week.
Drewry’s Container Forecaster expects the supply-demand balance to weaken in the next few quarters, which will cause spot rates to contract.
Spot freight rates by major route
Our assessment across eight major East-West trades
Source: Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
WCI Methodology
Ocean spot market freight rates against 6,700 global port pairs
If you need spot market container freight rate information on other routes to those above, find out more about our Container Freight Rate Insight (CFRI) online service, which covers 6,700 global port pairs updated monthly (2,450 updated fortnightly).
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