World Container Index: Drewry assessment on Thursday, 5 October 2017

• The composite index is down by 1.9% this week and up by 3% from the same period of 2016.
• The average composite index of the WCI, assessed by Drewry for year-to-date, is US $1,521/40ft container, which is $104 lower than the five-year average of $1,625/40ft container. It is also 3% higher than a year ago.
• Drewry’s composite index has been heading south since August, losing $299 per feu in two months to reach $1,292 this week. The World Container Index (WCI) between Shanghai and Rotterdam lost another $72 for a 40ft box this week to reach $1,325. Similarly, the rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles dropped by $25 to reach $1,439 per feu, and the rates on Shanghai-New York declined by another $21 to reach $1,960 per 40ft box. Meanwhile, the rates on Rotterdam-New York surged to $2,003, an increase of $120. We expect the rates on routes originating from Asia to decline again next week, following a week-long holiday in China.

View our latest freight rate assessments on eight major East-West trades:

Spot freight rates by route – assessed by Drewry