Freight rates
Spot rates on the main East–West routes eased in Drewry's assessment of 8 October 2026 as demand slowed during China's Golden Week holiday. The published figures, route by route.
Published · Midtrans Shipping And Services
Reviewed by Khaldoun Al-Khouli, General Manager
Drewry World Container Index, weekly assessment
The index
Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) composite fell 2% to $4,351 per 40ft container in its assessment of Thursday, 8 October 2026.
Drewry linked the decline to lower rates on the Transpacific and Asia–Europe trades as demand eased during China's Golden Week holiday.
Asia–Europe
Rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam fell 2% to $3,337 per 40ft container. Shanghai to Genoa was stable at $3,696.
Carriers scheduled six blank sailings on Asia–Europe for the following week, up from five.
Transpacific
Shanghai to Los Angeles fell 3% to $7,624 per 40ft container, and Shanghai to New York fell 2% to $10,220.
Blank sailings on the Transpacific were due to fall to four the following week, from eleven. Drewry said it expects rates on both trades to remain stable next week.
For shippers
The WCI tracks East–West routes and does not include ports in the Gulf, the Levant or Egypt. It shows the direction of the market, not the price of a specific lane.
MIDTRANS publishes indicative lane rates on its freight rates page, each with its own validity date. For a firm price on your cargo, ask us for a quote.
FAQ
$4,351 per 40ft container, down 2% from the previous week, according to Drewry.
No. The index covers East–West routes. For Middle East lanes, see our freight rates page or ask us for a quote.
Drewry said it expects rates on both the Transpacific and Asia–Europe trades to remain stable next week.
Among the published routes, Shanghai–Los Angeles fell the most, down 3% to $7,624 per 40ft container. Shanghai–Genoa was unchanged at $3,696.
Send us your cargo and route; our team will confirm current rates and sailing options.
International Shipping & Customs Assistant
