Global container shipping rates continued their upward trajectory for a fourth consecutive week, rising 1% to $2,213 per 40-foot container, as carriers capitalised on sustained demand across key trade routes heading into the new year.
According to the Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the latest gains were driven primarily by firmer pricing on Asia–Europe and Transpacific lanes, extending the recovery that began in early December after rates had fallen to their second-lowest levels since January 2025.
Asia–Europe routes led this week’s advance. Spot rates from Shanghai to Genoa climbed 3% to $3,427 per FEU, while Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 2% to $2,584. The trade lane has now recorded stable or rising rates for four consecutive weeks, underscoring a shift in traditional seasonal demand patterns.
“Over the last three years, Drewry has recorded double-digit month-on-month demand growth in December, establishing strong year-end volumes as the ‘new normal’,” the consultancy said, noting that December is no longer a weak post-peak period.
Carriers are also seeing early bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year in February 2026, lending further support to Asia–Europe rates and raising expectations of additional increases in the coming weeks.
Transpacific routes showed signs of stabilisation after posting double-digit gains last week. Rates from Shanghai to New York held at $3,293 per container, while Shanghai to Los Angeles remained steady at $2,474, following sharp rebounds in the prior period. Drewry expects Transpacific pricing to remain largely stable in the near term.
The current strength marks a sharp turnaround from conditions seen just two weeks ago, when carriers were grappling with a “fundamental volume problem” after most Christmas cargo had shipped early, largely in November. At that time, aggressive use of blank sailings failed to arrest the rate decline.
The swift reversal highlights the ongoing volatility in container shipping, as the industry adjusts to changing seasonal demand patterns, capacity management strategies, and persistent geopolitical disruptions impacting major global trade routes.
