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Supply Chain Advisors
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World Container Index - 17 Sep
For many years, World Container Index (WCI) has been the go-to, independent, global reference for index-linked contracts. If your organisation requires regional visibility/coverage beyond the eight trade lanes provided below, contact the team.
WCI increased slightly, with divergent trends on Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade routes for the seventh consecutive week. See detailed commentary below.
Link to WeChat update 德路里| WCI上涨1%：跨太平洋运价继续上行，亚欧回落
Drewry World Container Index (US$/40ft)
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WCI Trade Routes from Shanghai (US$/40ft)
Source: Drewry World Container Index, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
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Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 17 Sep 2026
- The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the benchmark widely referenced by procurement teams, increased 1% to $4,500 per 40ft container, driven by a rise in rates on the Transpacific trade route.
- On the Transpacific trade, rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 5% to $7,712 per 40ft container, while those from Shanghai to New York rose 7% to $10,394 per 40ft container. Carriers are managing capacity through blank sailings ahead of China's Golden Week. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, nine blank sailings have been announced for next week, up from eight this week, indicating tighter capacity. Drewry expects rates to rise slightly next week amid impending pre-Golden Week demand and continued capacity management by carriers.
- On the Asia–Europe trade route, rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell 5% to $4,016 per 40ft container, and slid 9% to $3,626 per 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight, four blank sailings are announced for next week, up from one this week, indicating tight capacity. Waiting time in Shanghai increased from 65 hours in Week 36 to 78 hours in Week 37. With tight capacity and continued congestion in Asia, Drewry expects rates to decline slightly next week, as demand remains weak.
- The East-West container freight market remains uncertain, with Transpacific rates supported by pre-Golden Week demand and carrier capacity management, while Asia–Europe rates face downward pressure from the gradual return of services through the Suez Canal and relatively weak demand. Meanwhile, renewed security risks around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb could affect the pace of Suez service restoration, while potential German port strikes could worsen congestion and cause schedule disruptions in North Europe. Asian port congestion and pre-Golden Week demand will remain key factors for the market in the coming weeks.
Spot freight rates by major route
Our assessment across eight major East-West trades
Source: Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
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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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