Drewry’s World Container Index, the benchmark composite index for average spot rates in global container shipping, rose by 5% in the week to 25 June 2026, increasing from $3,969 to $4,166 per 40ft container. This is the highest level reached by the index since September 2024, a figure the maritime consultancy attributes mainly to pressure on transpacific freight rates. Year on year, the composite index is up 40%, confirming structural pressure on container shipping costs that remains well above the level recorded in the same period last year.
The sharpest increases in the latest week were recorded on routes between China and the United States. On Shanghai-Los Angeles, spot rates rose by 12%, from $5,142 to $5,750 per 40ft container, while Shanghai-New York increased by 6%, from $6,769 to $7,149. Year-on-year changes were even more substantial, with a rise of 54% on the Los Angeles route and 25% on the New York route. Return routes remain at much lower levels: Los Angeles-Shanghai posted a weekly increase of 1%, rising from $822 to $828, equivalent to a 15% increase over the past 12 months.
Drewry reports that only four blank sailings have been announced on the transpacific for next week, pointing to severely constrained vessel capacity. Demand remains strong because of frontloading by US importers, who are bringing forward purchases ahead of possible tariff changes and rising fuel-related costs. This is being compounded by the expected introduction in July of general rate increases (GRIs) and peak season surcharges (PSSs) by carriers. On this basis, Drewry expects freight rates to rise further on the transpacific route in the coming weeks.
The situation on the Asia-Europe corridor is different, with weekly spot rates broadly stable but still at historically high nominal levels. Shanghai-Rotterdam rose by 1%, from $4,342 to $4,392, while Shanghai-Genoa was unchanged at $5,759, with a nominal variation of just $3 compared with the previous week. On a year-on-year basis, both routes still show steep increases, of 37% and 40% respectively. Capacity is also tight on this trade: Drewry recorded only three blank sailings announced on the Asia-Europe route for the current week. Return routes on the Asia-Europe corridor remain far below headhaul levels, although their trend is consistent with the broader market. Rotterdam-Shanghai increased by 1% in the latest week, from $643 to $648, with an annual rise of 26%.
Carrier pricing remains supported by continued frontloading ahead of the bunker fuel adjustment on 1 July. CMA CGM has announced new FAK (Freight All Kinds) rates of $6,300 per 40ft container on the Asia-Europe route and between $7,700 and $8,500 on Asia-Mediterranean services. The carrier has also introduced, with effect from 1 July, a peak season surcharge of $1,000 per 20ft container on the Asia-Europe route and $1,400 per 20ft container on the Asia-Mediterranean route. Drewry also expects freight rates on this corridor to rise further in the coming weeks.
The transatlantic corridor, traditionally more stable, also showed broad-based growth in the latest week. On Rotterdam-New York, rates increased by 3%, from $2,507 to $2,584, with a year-on-year rise of 30%. In the opposite direction, New York-Rotterdam posted a weekly increase of 6%, from $957 to $1,011, equivalent to a 22% rise year on year.
On the geopolitical front, Drewry notes that the truce between the United States and Iran has reduced disruption risks linked to transits through the Strait of Hormuz, although conditions remain fragile. At the same time, congestion at key Asian and European hubs continues to limit vessel availability, while sustained transport demand is keeping capacity tight on the main routes. In this context, carriers are successfully applying announced surcharges, including new FAK levels and PSSs, creating upward pressure on spot rates. Drewry says forwarders are likely to have to continue dealing with space constraints on vessels and prepare for further short-term price volatility.
M.G.
