Drewry WCI inches up, container freight rates jump 59% in 4 weeks

Freight rates from Shanghai to New York rose by 2 per cent to $7,285 per 40ft container over the past week and by 67 per cent since May 15. Meanwhile, spot rates to Los Angeles increased by 1 per cent over the week and by 89 per cent over the past four weeks. Prices on the Transpacific eastbound route changed marginally amid a fresh injection of capacity.

Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam and Genoa remained stable during the past week, at $2,837 and $4,054 per 40ft container, respectively.

The recent sharp, short-term strengthening in the global container shipping supply-demand balance has reversed the declining rate trend that began in January.

However, Drewry’s Container Forecaster predicts the supply-demand balance will weaken again in the second half of 2025, likely leading to a decline in spot rates. The volatility and timing of rate changes will depend on the outcome of legal challenges to Trump’s tariffs and on capacity adjustments linked to the introduction of US penalties on Chinese ships—both of which remain uncertain.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)