Drewry WCI down 2.85%, Transpacific up, Asia–Europe slides

For the second consecutive week, spot rates on major trade lanes moved in opposite directions. While Transpacific rates rose, Asia–Europe rates declined.

Transpacific spot rates are increasing due to General Rate Increase (GRI) announcements by several carriers. Shanghai–Los Angeles rates climbed 6 per cent to $2,678 per FEU, while Shanghai–New York rates rose 2 per cent to $3,743 per FEU. Despite the upcoming Golden Week holidays in China, these levels are unlikely to hold without further capacity cuts. Drewry expects rates to remain stable in the coming weeks.

Asia–Europe spot rates fell as Shanghai–Rotterdam dropped 10 per cent to $2,143 per FEU and Shanghai–Genoa slid 12 per cent to $2,342 per FEU. Carriers are struggling to balance additional capacity—due to new vessels entering the trade—with softening demand. With blank sailings increasing ahead of China’s Golden Week, beginning October 1, Drewry anticipates rates to dip slightly in the weeks ahead.

Drewry’s Container Forecaster projects the supply–demand balance will weaken again in the second half of 2025, leading to further spot rate contraction. The timing and scale of rate movements will depend on President Donald Trump’s future tariff actions and capacity adjustments related to potential US penalties on Chinese vessels, which remain uncertain.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)