Home breadcru News breadcru Logistics breadcru Drewry WCI rises as industry anticipates ILA strike, policy changes

Drewry WCI rises as industry anticipates ILA strike, policy changes

03 Jan '25
2 min read
Drewry WCI rises as industry anticipates ILA strike, policy changes
Pic: Adobe Stock

Insights

  • The Drewry World Container Index rose to $3,905 per FEU, a 2.68 per cent increase.
  • This rise is attributed to the anticipated ILA strike and potential disruptions from the Trump Administration.
  • Although below the pandemic peak, rates are significantly higher than the 2019 average, with further increases expected due to the looming strike and expected tariff hikes.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) composite index increased by 2.68 per cent to $3,905 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) on January 5, 2025, up from $3,803 per FEU. Shipping freight charges surged ahead of the proposed ILA strike in January 2025. Freight charges were also influenced by the incoming Trump Administration, which may take steps that could disrupt the current market scenario of global shipping activities.

The index was 62 per cent below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021 but 175 per cent more than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

The average year-to-date composite index is $3,905 per 40ft container, $1,040 higher than the 10-year average of $2,865 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 COVID period).

Freight rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased by 7 per cent, or $330, to $4,829 per 40ft container. Similarly, rates from Shanghai to New York rose by 6 per cent, or $371, to $6,445 per 40ft container. Likewise, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai and New York to Rotterdam increased by 2 per cent to $516 and $838 per 40ft container, respectively.

Conversely, rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased by 1 per cent, or $45, to $4,774 per 40ft container. Meanwhile, rates from Shanghai to Genoa, Los Angeles to Shanghai, and Rotterdam to New York remained stable.

Drewry expects rates on the Transpacific trade to rise in the coming week, driven by front-loading ahead of the looming ILA port strike in January 2025 and the anticipated tariff hikes under the incoming Trump Administration.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)

Get Free Weekly Market Insights Newsletter

Receive daily prices and market insights straight to your inbox. Subscribe to AlchemPro Weekly!