Global shipping rates for containers increased by 1% this week, reaching $2,213 for a 40-foot container. This marks the fourth consecutive week of rising rates as carriers take advantage of strong demand on key trade routes as the new year approaches.
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) has now seen four weeks of growth, mainly due to rising rates on Transpacific and Asia-Europe shipping routes. This uptick continues a recovery that started in early December, after rates had dropped to their second-lowest since January 2025.
Asia-Europe routes have been particularly strong this week. Spot rates from Shanghai to Genoa rose by 3% to $3,427 per 40-foot container, while rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam increased by 2% to $2,584. These trade routes have maintained stable or increasing rates for four weeks in a row.
According to shipping consultancy Drewry, “Over the last three years, we’ve seen double-digit month-over-month demand growth in December, creating strong year-end volumes that seem to be the new normal.”
The steady performance on Asia-Europe routes indicates a shift in the usual seasonal patterns, with December volumes proving to be much stronger than the typical holiday shipping trends. Carriers are already noticing early bookings for the Lunar New Year in February 2026, which could lead to more rate increases in the weeks ahead.
This week, Transpacific routes showed more stability after experiencing significant gains previously. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York and from Shanghai to Los Angeles remained steady, following last week’s sharp increases. Rates from Shanghai to New York are currently at $3,293 per container, while rates to Los Angeles stand at $2,474.
Drewry expects Transpacific rates to stay stable in the near future but anticipates slight increases on Asia-Europe routes as shipments build up before the Lunar New Year.
The current situation is a stark contrast to just two weeks ago, when carriers faced what analysts called “a fundamental volume problem” after most Christmas goods had already shipped out in November. At that time, attempts to manage capacity through canceled voyages—known as blank sailings—were not enough to stop the decline.
This quick turnaround highlights the ongoing volatility in container shipping as the industry adjusts to changing seasonal trends, challenges in managing shipping capacity, and continuous geopolitical issues impacting major routes.