Spot container freight rates continued to rise in the first week of November 2025. According to Drewry, as of 6 November 2025 the composite World Container Index reached 1,959 dollars per 40-foot container, up 8% on the previous week but still 43% lower year-on-year. The sharpest increases were recorded on routes between China and Europe. The Shanghai–Rotterdam rate climbed to 1,962 dollars (+9% week-on-week, -50% year-on-year), while the Shanghai–Genoa route crossed the 2,000-dollar threshold, reaching 2,111 dollars (+8%, -52%). In contrast, the return leg Rotterdam–Shanghai remained stable at 463 dollars, down 12% compared to a year earlier. Drewry reports that operators on the Asia–Europe route are introducing new FAK rates ranging from 3,000 to 3,600 dollars per 40-foot container, effective from 15 November, in a bid to support prices ahead of the annual contract season.
A similar trend is seen on routes between China and the United States. The Shanghai–Los Angeles connection rose by 9% to 2,647 dollars, while the Shanghai–New York route increased by 8% to 3,837 dollars. However, both remain well below 2024 levels (down 45% and 27% respectively). The return leg Los Angeles–Shanghai stayed virtually unchanged at 713 dollars (+1% week-on-week, -1% year-on-year), making it one of the most stable routes in the entire index.
On the transatlantic front, performance was mixed. The New York–Rotterdam route reached 865 dollars (+2% week-on-week and +10% year-on-year), making it the only route to show an annual increase. In the opposite direction, Rotterdam–New York stood at 1,664 dollars (-1% week-on-week, -37% year-on-year). Drewry notes that the recent rise in rates largely reflects the General Rate Increases introduced on 1 November to counter the market’s excess capacity. Nevertheless, the outlook remains weak: according to the firm’s Container Forecaster, the balance between supply and demand is expected to loosen over the coming quarters, with a likely return to falling rates unless carriers introduce new corrective measures.
