Global Freight Rate Update, April 17, 2025

According to Drewry, the world container index reversed course after two weeks of increases, with nearly all major routes recording week-on-week declines.

The Drewry WCI composite index decreased 3% to $2,192 per 40ft container, 79% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021. However, the index was 54% higher than the average $1,420 in 2019 (pre-pandemic). The average YTD composite index closed at $2,897 per 40ft container, $7 higher than the 10-year average of $2,890 (inflated by the exceptional 2020-22 Covid period).

Freight rates from Shanghai to New York decreased 7% or $270 to $3,706 per 40ft container, and those from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 5% or $132 to $2,683 per 40ft container.

Similarly, rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam and Shanghai to Genoa fell 2% to $2,344 and $3,018 per 40ft container, respectively.

Also, rates from New York to Rotterdam and Rotterdam to New York shrank 1% to $817 and $2,129 per 40ft container, respectively.

Conversely, rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai increased 4% or $18 to $493 per 40ft container.

Meanwhile, rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai remained stable.

Drewry expects rates to continue to decline in the coming week due to reduced capacity and uncertainty stemming from tariffs.

From	To	Freight (USD/40’ container)	Weekly Change (%)	Yearly Change (%)
China	Northwest Europe	2,344	-2%	-22%
US East Coast	Northwest Europe	817	-1%	31%
China	South Europe	3,018	-2%	-16%

   

From	To	Freight (USD/40’ container)	Weekly Change (%)	Yearly Change (%)
China	US West Coast	2,683	-5%	-23%
China	US East Coast	3,706	-7%	-17%
Northwest Europe	US East Coast	2,129	-1%	-7%

       

From	To	Freight (USD/40’ container)	Weekly Change (%)	Yearly Change (%)
Northwest Europe	China	493	4%	-36%
US West Coast	China	705	0%	0%

The abovementioned freight rates per container are effective as of April 17, 2025 and contain all applicable costs such as bunker adjustment fees (baf) and currency adjustment fees (caf).