The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), long established as an independent global reference for index-linked contracts, declined 1% to $4,473 per 40ft container in the week assessed on Thursday, 27 August 2026, driven by lower rates on the Transpacific and Asia–Europe trade routes. The WCI tracks spot freight rates across eight major East–West routes and is widely used by carriers and shippers as a benchmark for contract rate negotiations, so weekly movements feed directly into supply chain costs for containerised goods.

Transpacific: Mixed Spot Rates

Spot rates from Shanghai to New York decreased 2% to $9,333 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles remained stable at $6,818 per 40ft container.

According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight, four blank sailings have been announced for the next week, down from seven this week, indicating an increase in capacity. Blank sailings — scheduled voyages cancelled by carriers — are a standard tool for managing supply and supporting rates when demand softens. With demand remaining resilient and carriers continuing to manage capacity, Drewry expects freight rates to remain less volatile next week.

Asia–Europe: Rates Decline Amid Port Congestion

Spot rates on the Asia–Europe trade route declined this week. Rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell 2% to $4,866 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased 3% to $4,287 per 40ft container.

Drewry's Container Capacity Insight shows four blank sailings announced for next week, up from two this week, reflecting constrained capacity. Congestion at Shanghai port increased last week, with average vessel waiting time rising to 96 hours from 35 hours the week before. Such congestion absorbs effective vessel capacity, since ships queue at berth rather than sailing, which can support rates even as quoted spot prices soften. Drewry expects freight rates to remain stable next week.

East–West Market Uncertainty

The East–West container freight market remains uncertain as geopolitical and operational pressures continue to reshape shipping routes. Uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz persists, while some carriers are cautiously resuming Suez Canal transits following improved security assessments. At the same time, congestion across Asian ports and low Rhine water levels are disrupting cargo flows, and the Panama Canal is set to reduce transit capacity from September amid water constraints. Each of these chokepoints — the Suez and Panama canals, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Rhine inland waterway — handles a significant share of global trade, and disruption at any one of them forces carriers onto longer or costlier routings. What to watch in coming weeks includes the pace of Suez transit resumption, the September Panama Canal capacity reduction, and whether Shanghai waiting times recede from their current elevated level.

With carriers adjusting capacity through blank sailings, shippers are advised to book early and allow additional lead time to minimise rollover and transit-delay risks.

Broader Coverage

Drewry's Container Freight Rate Insight (CFRI) online service provides spot market container freight rate information covering 6,700 global port pairs, updated monthly, with 2,450 updated fortnightly.

Source: Drewry