Drewry World Container Index Falls 4% as Asia–Europe and Transpacific Rates Decline

Published 25 July 2026 — Source: Drewry via Hellenic Shipping News

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), a widely used benchmark for index-linked container shipping contracts, decreased 4% to $4,374 per 40ft container for the week assessed on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The composite index tracks spot rates on eight major East–West trade routes that collectively carry the largest share of global containerised cargo, making its weekly movements a closely watched signal for shippers negotiating or adjusting contracts tied to the benchmark. The latest decline was driven by falling spot rates on both the Asia–Europe and Transpacific corridors.

Transpacific Rates Decline Amid Increased Capacity

On the Transpacific trade route, spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles fell 6% to $5,878 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to New York dropped 4% to $7,598 per 40ft container. Drewry attributed the declines to increased capacity and easing demand.

According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight, six blank sailings are scheduled on the Transpacific route next week, compared with nine scheduled this week — an indicator of higher capacity deployment by carriers and a widening supply–demand gap. Drewry expects rates on this route to remain stable in the coming week.

Additional uncertainty looms over the trade lane as the current 10% global US import tariffs are set to expire on 24 July, with new tariffs expected to take effect in early August. The transition has created uncertainty for shippers, many of whom use index-linked or spot-referenced contracts that adjust with benchmarks like the WCI, meaning rate volatility can feed directly into landed-cost calculations for importers.

Asia–Europe Rates Ease

On the Asia–Europe trade route, spot rates from Shanghai to Genoa declined 5% to $5,988 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased 1% to $4,824 per 40ft container.

Drewry's Container Capacity Insight indicates that four blank sailings are scheduled on the Asia–Europe route next week — two more than last week — reflecting an increase in available market capacity. With demand easing alongside the added capacity, Drewry expects rates to decrease slightly next week.

Geopolitical Tensions and Surcharges

Geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran continued during the period, and with ongoing concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, several carriers have announced Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) effective August 2026. Such surcharges are typically passed through to shippers outside of base freight rates, adding a layer of cost that may persist even as spot rates on individual lanes soften.

Freight rates on major East–West trade lanes declined for a second consecutive week, as increased market capacity coincided with easing demand. Drewry noted that ongoing geopolitical developments and uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies could continue to influence market conditions and freight rate trends in the coming weeks.

The WCI has served for many years as an independent global reference for index-linked shipping contracts. Drewry's broader Container Freight Rate Insight (CFRI) service covers spot market container freight rates across 6,700 global port pairs, updated monthly, with 2,450 routes updated fortnightly.