Drewry Container Freight Index Drops 1% to $4,434

The Drewry Composite Container Freight Rate Index fell 1% to $4,434 per 40-foot container in its assessment released on October 1, marking the second consecutive weekly decline following a series of previous gains.

Freight rates on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route dropped 2% to $3,399, and the Shanghai-Genoa route fell 3% to $3,702, while the Shanghai-New York route rose 1% to $10,428, and the Shanghai-Los Angeles route remained virtually unchanged at $7,835.

Drewry data indicates that Asia-Europe routes have recorded consecutive declines for 12 weeks, with the number of sailings in week 39 rising by 68% compared to the corresponding week in 2025, thereby increasing available capacity.

This decline is attributed to weak demand against increasing effective capacity—a significant development for regional exporters whose cost of landing goods in Europe depends directly on these rates, as a continued decline could ease pressure on export margins. Analysts point out that the return of capacity via Suez increases supply and deepens the impact of weak demand on freight rates.

What do these terms mean?

The Drewry Index is a weekly average measure of the cost to ship a 20- or 40-foot container along major shipping routes. A 40-foot container is the benchmark unit in shipping. Effective capacity refers to the number of containers available for shipping on a route. Weekly sailings refer to the number of container ships that crossed the routes during a week; an increase in sailings while demand remains constant lowers prices.