Drewry WCI drops again as carriers adjust to lower demand

09 May '25

2 min read

Drewry WCI drops again as carriers adjust to lower demand

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Insights

The Drewry World Container Index fell by 0.71 per cent to $2,076 per FEU on May 8, remaining 80 per cent below its 2021 peak but 46 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
Freight rates on major routes showed mixed trends, with declines on Asia-Europe routes and increases on Asia-US routes.
Drewry expects rates to stabilise as carriers adjust capacity amid reduced cargo bookings from China.

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI)—a composite measure of container freight rates—further eased by 0.71 per cent to $2,076 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) on May 8, down from $2,091 per FEU the previous week. The barometer measuring container freight rates has seen only a slight decline, as shipping companies are adjusting their capacity in line with global demand. The uncertainty following the tariff war had reduced container demand, leading to a steep fall in recent weeks.

The index remained 80 per cent below the pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021. However, it was 46 per cent higher than the average of $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

The average year-to-date (YTD) composite index closed at $2,773 per 40ft container, $122 lower than the 10-year average of $2,895 (inflated by the exceptional 2020–22 COVID period).

Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam decreased by 7 per cent, or $156, to $2,046 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell by 4 per cent, or $123, to $2,766 per 40ft container. Following the trend, rates from New York to Rotterdam and Rotterdam to New York declined by 3 per cent to $814 and $1,972 per 40ft container, respectively.

Additionally, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai fell by 2 per cent, or $7, to $457 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased by 5 per cent, or $123, to $2,713 per 40ft container. Rates from Shanghai to New York rose by 4 per cent, or $146, to $3,646 per 40ft container. Similarly, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai increased by 2 per cent, or $17, to $706 per 40ft container.

Drewry expects rates to remain less volatile in the coming week as carriers reorganise their capacity to reflect a lower volume of cargo bookings from China.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

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