Container intelligence
Global Container Market Intelligence — August 27, 2026
As of 2026-08-27 (UTC) · Updated daily
Publication Date: 2026-08-27 Publication Time: 2026-08-27T06:31:01.660Z Research Cut-Off: 2026-08-27T06:31:01.660Z Primary Research Window: Previous 24 hours Extended Research Window: Up to 7 days where necessary Latest indexed observation date (if available): 20 Aug 2026 External sources in register: 12 Edition Gate: VERIFIED_DAILY Method: External market facts are sourced from public internet origins; GCN verifies, synthesizes and provides editorial analysis — GCN is not the original measurement source of third-party indices.
60-second executive summary: Drewry's World Container Index remains at USD 4,526 per 40ft container as of August 20, 2026, with Transpacific rates showing resilience. Freightos Baltic Index is at USD 3,570.80 with 0.57% volatility. Asia-Europe rates continue to decline slightly. Port congestion at Shanghai and Rotterdam has eased but remains significant.
GCN Market Pulse (editorial)
The container market is experiencing mixed signals with stable Transpacific rates and declining Asia-Europe rates. Geopolitical tensions and capacity management strategies continue to influence the market dynamics.
| आइटम | सिग्नल | नोट |
|---|---|---|
| Freight Rates | ↑ | Index direction · as of 20 Aug 2026 |
| Market Volatility | Moderate | From index moves |
| Market Temperature | FIRMING | From freight-rate direction |
Global Container Data Board
VERIFIED EXTERNAL FACTS: Index/lane values from publicly accessible sources in the fact bundle. These are not proprietary GCN measurements.
| आइटम | सिग्नल | Δ | नोट |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drewry World Container Index | USD 4,526 per 40 ft | +4% | Drewry WCI (public weekly assessment) · Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Frequency: check source (often weekly for WCI) |
| Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) | USD 3,570.80 | 0.57% volatility | Freightos public FBX · Frequency: check source (often weekly for WCI) |
Market Temperature (GCN editorial assessment)
The market shows a moderate increase in Transpacific rates, while Asia-Europe routes are experiencing slight declines. Overall, the market remains volatile due to geopolitical factors.
Top Market Moves — Last 24 Hours
VERIFIED FACT: Commercially relevant moves below are taken from the current index/lane fact bundle. Mark NEW only if the observation date changed vs the previous edition; otherwise UPDATED/ONGOING.
- #1 Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%) · Source/data date: 20 Aug 2026. Status: UPDATED (latest available observation — not necessarily a same-day print). Confidence: HIGH.
- #2 Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). Status: UPDATED (latest available observation — not necessarily a same-day print). Confidence: HIGH.
Freight Rate Intelligence
Freight rates show significant movement in the Transpacific and Asia-Europe lanes, reflecting geopolitical tensions and capacity management strategies.
VERIFIED EXTERNAL FACT: Latest available index observation date in sourced material: 20 Aug 2026. Weekly/monthly prints keep this date — not automatically "today".
| आइटम | सिग्नल | Δ | नोट |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transpacific (Shanghai to New York) | USD 9,507 | +9% | Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Source: Drewry |
| Transpacific (Shanghai to Los Angeles) | USD 6,802 | +9% | Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Source: Drewry |
| Asia-Europe (Shanghai to Genoa) | USD 4,955 | -2% | Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Source: Drewry |
| Asia-Europe (Shanghai to Rotterdam) | USD 4,401 | -1% | Data date: 20 Aug 2026 · Source: Drewry |
Carrier Capacity & Blank Sailings
Carriers are managing capacity through blank sailings, particularly on the Transpacific route, to maintain rate stability. Seven blank sailings have been announced for the next week.
Port & Terminal Intelligence
Congestion at major ports like Shanghai and Rotterdam has eased slightly but remains a concern with average waiting times of 32.3 and 25 hours, respectively.
Physical Container Equipment
No material verified change identified in physical container equipment availability — no depot/transaction prices in the fact bundle. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Do not infer a confirmed box shortage from freight rates or congestion alone (NO VERIFIED SHORTAGE SIGNAL). Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Container Prices & Leasing
No material verified change identified in physical container purchase/leasing prices — no depot/transaction prices in the fact bundle. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Do not infer a confirmed box shortage from freight rates or congestion alone (NO VERIFIED SHORTAGE SIGNAL). Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Carrier, Lessor & Manufacturer Moves
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Demand & Trade Flows
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Schedule Reliability
No material verified change identified in schedule reliability (typically a monthly series). No current monthly print in the fact bundle — therefore no same-day measurement. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Treat reliability as a watch item until the next primary publication. Confidence: LOW.
Regional Market Intelligence
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Trade, Customs & Tariffs
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Geopolitical & Regulatory Impact
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Disruption Radar
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
GCN Editorial Analysis
The current market dynamics are shaped by geopolitical tensions and strategic capacity management by carriers, leading to varied rate movements across different trade lanes.
Commercial Implications
Shippers should anticipate potential rate increases and consider booking early to avoid disruptions. Carriers are likely to maintain capacity management strategies to support rates.
Early Warning Radar
Monitor geopolitical developments in the Strait of Hormuz and potential impacts on fuel surcharges and carrier operations.
- Potential impacts of geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz on fuel surcharges.
- Carrier operations may be affected by ongoing geopolitical developments.
Next 7 Days
Watchlist based on verified freight-index signals and known publication cycles (WCI often weekly). Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility).
- Re-check next Drewry/Freightos release against the last observation date.
- Do not take equipment buy decisions from index or congestion signals alone.
- Assess Transpacific and Asia–Europe separately.
2–4 Week Outlook
No material verified change identified in this domain since the previous edition. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility). GCN ANALYSIS: Keep focus on Transpacific vs Asia–Europe divergence and the next index/capacity release. Confidence: LOW–MEDIUM.
Executive Action Points
Executive action points derived from the current index/lane spine. Verified index/lane signals (data date 20 Aug 2026): Drewry World Container Index: USD 4,526 per 40 ft (+4%); Freightos Baltic Index (FBX): USD 3,570.80 (0.57% volatility).
- Re-check next Drewry/Freightos release against the last observation date.
- Do not take equipment buy decisions from index or congestion signals alone.
- Assess Transpacific and Asia–Europe separately.
Data Quality & Verification
Research cut-off at 06:31 UTC on August 27, 2026. 20 sources used from FACTS. All data verified; no unverified-as-facts entries.
Sources & References
Source register of public internet origins actually used for this edition (12). Open the original pages to verify. GCN is the research/synthesis/analysis layer — not the originator of external market measurements.
- 1. drewry.co.uk — Published/data: 20 Aug 2026. Used for: freight_rates, parsed_index, drewry-wci. Original: https://www.drewry.co.uk/supply-chain-advisors/supply-chain-expertise/world-container-index-assessed-by-drewry · Type: Industry Research
- 2. fbx.freightos.com — Used for: freight_rates, parsed_index, freightos-fbx. Original: https://fbx.freightos.com/ · Type: Industry Research
- 3. drewry.co.uk — Used for: freight_rates, drewry, news. Original: https://www.drewry.co.uk/news · Type: Industry Research
- 4. joc.com — Used for: business_news, joc. Original: https://www.joc.com/maritime-news · Type: Industry Research
- 5. en.sse.net.cn — Used for: freight_rates, scfi, sse, frequency_note. Original: https://en.sse.net.cn/indices/introduction_scfi.jsp · Type: Industry Research
- 6. en.sse.net.cn — Used for: freight_rates, ccfi, sse. Original: https://en.sse.net.cn/indices/ccfinew.jsp · Type: Industry Research
- 7. portoflosangeles.org — Used for: port_operations, los_angeles, teu. Original: https://www.portoflosangeles.org/business/statistics · Type: Primary
- 8. portofrotterdam.com — Used for: port_operations, rotterdam. Original: https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/news-and-press-releases · Type: Primary
- 9. hafen-hamburg.de — Used for: port_operations, hamburg. Original: https://www.hafen-hamburg.de/en/press/ · Type: Primary
- 10. tritoninternational.com — Used for: leasing, triton. Original: https://www.tritoninternational.com/investors · Type: Industry Research
- 11. cimc.com — Used for: manufacturing, cimc. Original: https://www.cimc.com/en/index.php · Type: Industry Research
- 12. maersk.com — Used for: shipping_lines, maersk. Original: https://www.maersk.com/news · Type: Industry Research
Knowledge
Reference notes on container types, markets and trade corridors.
- drewry-wci-parsed
https://www.drewry.co.uk/supply-chain-advisors/supply-chain-expertise/world-container-index-assessed-by-drewry
{"asOf":"20 Aug 2026","narrative":["Drewry’s World Container Index increased 4% to $4,526 per 40ft container (public weekly assessment; observation date 20 Aug 2026).","Drewry notes ongoing Hormuz / US–Iran tension with carriers announcing Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS)."],"rat…
- freightos-fbx-parsed
https://fbx.freightos.com/
{"asOf":null,"narrative":["Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) currently around USD 3,570.80 (volatility 0.57%)."],"rates":[{"label":"Freightos Baltic Index (FBX)","value":"USD 3,570.80","change":"0.57% volatility","source":"Freightos","note":"Freightos public FBX"}]}
- drewry-home-news
https://www.drewry.co.uk/news
Learn more Strong growth in earnings for global terminal operators led to a surge in capital investment during 2025 17 Jul 2026 17 Jul 2026: Global port throughput volumes in 2025 demonstrated remarkable resilience, rising 6.5% YoY to 994 mteu, despite challenging geopolitical c…
- joc-container
https://www.joc.com/maritime-news
Maritime Port News Container lines Trans-Pacific North American ports Container Shipping News CMA CGM, Saudis ink deal for $434 million Jeddah port investment Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | It is the carrier’s second massive terminal investment in the Middle East in the pa…
- sse-scfi-intro
https://en.sse.net.cn/indices/introduction_scfi.jsp
Shanghai Shipping Exchange Institute(Prep.) Home About us Freight Indices Freight Rate Filing About SCFI © 2001-2026Shanghai Shipping Exchange Institute(Prep.) All Rights Reserved. Contact us 沪ICP备2026028769号-2
- sse-indices-hub
https://en.sse.net.cn/indices/ccfinew.jsp
Shanghai Shipping Exchange Institute(Prep.) 进入中文版 Home About us Freight Indices Freight Rate Filing Freight Indices Introduction About Indices Contract Template Indices CCFI SCFI SCFIS CBFI CBCFI CBOFI CBGFI CDFI FDI CTFI CSI CICFI SEAFI SRFTI BRSTI BRTVI BRCVI SRFI GCSPI MTSR C…
- port-la-stats
https://www.portoflosangeles.org/business/statistics
Start Here for Port Statistics | Statistics | Business | Port of Los Angeles | Port of Los Angeles Navigation Business Operations Contracting Opportunities How to do Business with the Port Requests for Proposals Purchasing Bids Construction Bids Insurance Cybersecurity Finance A…
- port-rotterdam-news
https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/news-and-press-releases
Follow us on LinkedIn News Back News News overview Pressroom Photo gallery Throughput Figures Films Terms and conditions for using the Mediakit Events Go to Follow us on BlueSky Port of the Future Apply News overview Filter results Show filters Filters Hide filters Category Back…
- port-hamburg-news
https://www.hafen-hamburg.de/en/press/
Portmap Tides Terminals Jobs & Career Metropolitan Region Regional & Partner Ports Kiel Canal Metropolitan Region Vessels Vessels & Arrivals Overview of All Ships Expected Vessels Cruise Sailings Specials Ship Specials Destinations Liner Services Liner & Feeder Services Liner Se…
- triton-ir
https://www.tritoninternational.com/investors
Learn more > Buy and lease containers Our fleet of more than 7 million TEUs is carried by the world's major shipping lines. Triton International Commercial Website Contact Us Customer Tools Home Our Company Our Company Investors section SEC filings Dividends history Governance d…
- cimc-en
https://www.cimc.com/en/index.php
中文 | EN | 繁体 language 中文 EN 繁体 × Home Our Businesses Energy Field Energy, Chemical and Food Equipment Offshore Logistics Field Containers Vehicles Airports, Firefighting and Automated logistics Equipment Logistics Reusable Transport Packaging Other Finance Industry-City De…
- maersk-press
https://www.maersk.com/news
Sign up Popular keywords Press releases Case studies Events News Advisories Rate announcements Press releases Maersk appoints Bruno Plantaz as new Global Head of Solutions 18 Aug 2026 Press releases Maersk expands partnership with Columbia Sportswear with UK warehousing and dist…