The trend in spot average container freight rates remained negative in the week ending 29 January 2026. Drewry’s World Container Index composite, which tracks the main global routes, stood at $2,107 per 40-foot container, down 5% on the previous week and 37% year on year. The sequence of declines confirms a phase of downward pressure on prices linked to excess supply and weak demand, particularly on trades out of Asia.
On China–Europe routes, the picture remains firmly downward. The Shanghai–Rotterdam service recorded a weekly drop of 5%, with rates at $2,379, and a 27% reduction compared with a year earlier. The fall was even sharper on the Shanghai–Genoa route, which lost 6% in a single week, slipping to $3,293 and marking a 25% decline year on year. Seasonal demand slowdown ahead of the Chinese New Year is combining with cautious capacity management by carriers, which are reintroducing supply gradually.
China–US routes show the widest movements across the entire index. Shanghai–New York posted the steepest weekly fall, down 7%, bringing the rate to $2,969 and consolidating a year-on-year loss of 53%. Shanghai–Los Angeles also fell by 4% over the week, settling at $2,442, with a 49% annual decrease. The data point to structural weakness in the transpacific market, with price levels now far below those seen at the start of 2025.
A different pattern is evident on Europe–US routes, which are showing greater stability. Rotterdam–New York rose by 2% week on week to $1,605, although it remains down 41% year on year. The reverse route, New York–Rotterdam, increased by 1% on the week to $988 and is the only lane in the entire basket to record a positive year-on-year change, at +18%. This dynamic suggests a more solid balance between supply and demand on transatlantic trades.
Looking ahead to the coming weeks, Drewry expects the market to remain exposed to downward pressure. The high number of blank sailings scheduled for February and the gradual reintroduction of capacity are intended to limit further erosion of freight rates, but current demand levels leave little room for a short-term recovery, especially on the main Asian corridors.
