Drewry World Container Index Declines 3% as Asia–Europe and Transpacific Rates Ease
Key Takeaways
- •The Drewry World Container Index declined 3% to $4,255 per 40ft container for the week assessed on 30 July 2026, driven by falling rates on the Asia–Europe and Transpacific routes.
- •Asia–Europe spot rates dropped more sharply than Transpacific rates, with Shanghai–Genoa falling 6% to $5,630 and Shanghai–Rotterdam decreasing 3% to $4,677 per 40ft container.
- •Carriers are actively managing capacity through blank sailings, with eight scheduled on Transpacific routes and three on Asia–Europe routes for the coming week.
- •Several carriers plan to implement Emergency Fuel Surcharges starting in August to offset rising operational costs stemming from Middle East geopolitical tensions.
- •Drewry expects reduced rate volatility on Transpacific routes and broadly stable rates on Asia–Europe lanes in the near term as capacity management measures take effect.
Drewry World Container Index Declines 3% as Asia–Europe and Transpacific Rates Ease
International Shipping News — 01/08/2026
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), a long-standing independent global benchmark that tracks composite spot rates across eight major East–West container routes, decreased 3% to $4,255 per 40ft container for the week assessed on Thursday, 30 July 2026. The index is widely referenced for index-linked freight contracts and provides a weekly barometer of global container shipping costs. The decline was driven by falling rates on both the Asia–Europe and Transpacific trade routes, which together represent the world's busiest container shipping corridors.
Transpacific Trade Route
On the Transpacific lane, spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles declined 2% to $5,739 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to New York held steady at $7,578 per 40ft container.
Following softening demand and a slowdown in front-loading activity — the practice of advancing cargo shipments ahead of anticipated trade policy changes — carriers are actively managing capacity through blank sailings, which involve omitting scheduled port calls or entire voyages to tighten available supply. According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight, eight blank sailings are scheduled for next week, up from seven this week, resulting in reduced available capacity in the market. Drewry expects rate volatility to lessen in the coming week as a result.
Asia–Europe Trade Route
On the Asia–Europe trade route, spot rates declined 6% to $5,630 per 40ft container from Shanghai to Genoa and decreased 3% to $4,677 per 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam.
With demand continuing to ease, carriers are focusing on capacity management through blank sailings to prevent further rate erosion. According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight, three blank sailings are scheduled on the Asia–Europe trade lane next week, compared to four this week. As carriers continue to manage available capacity, Drewry expects rates to remain stable in the next week.
Broader Market Conditions
The East–West container freight market remained under pressure, as demand continued to soften following the implementation of new US tariff measures. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have prompted several carriers to introduce Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) effective from August — a mechanism carriers use to pass through sudden fuel cost increases linked to operational disruptions. Meanwhile, carriers across major trade lanes continue to manage capacity through blank sailings and service adjustments.
Ongoing uncertainty surrounding global trade policies, geopolitical developments, and port congestion is expected to influence market conditions and freight rate trends in the coming weeks. For shippers and supply chain managers, the combination of rate softening on spot markets and new surcharges creates a mixed cost picture, and the weekly WCI releases will continue to reflect how these competing forces settle.
Source: Drewry, via Hellenic Shipping News