The World Container Index assessed by Drewry, is slightly down this week to $1562.44/40ft, but up by 29% from the same period of 2016.
The composite of container freight rates on eight major routes to/from the US, Europe and Asia, is down by 0.3% this week.
The average composite index of the WCI, assessed for year-to-date is US $1,545/40ft, which is $105 lower than the five-year average of $1,650/40ft, Drewry says.
According to the report, loadings to Europe from Asia are soft in August, and as such, the GRIs lost traction this month. »However, on the Transpacific trade, the peak season is kicking in, and carriers are revising their rates up for the second half of this month«, it is added.
The rates on all routes originating from Asia were stable this week. The rates on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route were steady at $1,754, while on Shanghai-New York, they were $2,667, and on Shanghai to Los Angeles, they evened out at $1,657 for a 40ft box. Drewry expects the rates on Asia-Europe to pare down next week, while the rates to the US will strengthen.
