Global Container Market Update — 2026-08-09

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the benchmark widely referenced by procurement teams, rebounded after three consecutive weeks of decline, edging up 1% to $4,297 per 40ft container. The increase was supported by higher rates on Transpacific trade routes. On the Transpacific trade route, spot rates from Shanghai to New York rose 4% to $7,893 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 3% to $5,894 per 40ft. Carriers successfully implemented GRIs as volumes held firm into August. Meanwhile, port congestion across central and south China continued to constrain capacity, providing further support to freight rates. According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight , eight blank sailings are scheduled for next week, unchanged from this week and indicating stable available capacity in the market. As a result, Drewry expects the volatility in rates to reduce in the coming week. On the Asia–Europe trade route, spot rates remained stable this week. Freight rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell 2% to $5,506 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Rotterdam held steady at $4,653 per 40ft container. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight , three blank sailings were recorded this week and the same number is scheduled for next week on the Asia–Europe trade lane. As carriers continue to manage available capacity, Drewry expects rates to remain stable next week. The East–West container freight market remained volatile amid Middle East tensions, new US tariffs and congestion at Asian ports. Iran and the US resumed hostilities in late July, increasing uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and prompting several carriers to introduce Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) from August. Meanwhile, carriers continued to manage capacity thr

Drewry notes ongoing Hormuz / US–Iran tension with carriers announcing Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS).

Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) currently around USD 3,607.00 (volatility 0.57%).

Market characterisation: a still high-cost, operationally volatile market moving toward partial rebalancing — not yet normalised.

The table lists only publicly evidenced benchmarks from this collection cycle. Regional reading: Shanghai remains the East–West pricing reference; Transpacific and Asia–Europe corrections reflect capacity expansion and easing demand (Drewry). Where a lane is blank, the public page did not yield a labeled figure.

No sufficiently recent, independently verifiable operating figures for Shanghai, Ningbo, Hamburg, Busan or Dubai were confirmed in this collection cycle. Los Angeles / Rotterdam / Singapore updates are included only when official press text was captured — otherwise marked unavailable. Prefer gaps over assumptions.

Public real-time data on One Trip, used, leasing and depot stock remain limited. Market inferences from freight/capacity signals: rising vessel capacity may ease East–West equipment imbalances; strong U.S. imports can generate empty export boxes; Middle East route risk can still delay repositioning. These are inferences, not a global depot inventory.

No sufficiently specific carrier announcements with direct material relevance to today’s global assessment were confirmed in this collection cycle. Absence of a verified update is not evidence of inactivity.

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the benchmark widely referenced by procurement teams, rebounded after three consecutive weeks of decline, edging up 1% to $4,297 per 40ft container. The increase was supported by higher rates on Transpacific trade routes. On the Transpacific trade route, spot rates from Shanghai to New York rose 4% to $7,893 per 40ft container, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 3% to $5,894 per 40ft. Carriers successfully implemented GRIs as volumes held firm into August. Meanwhile, port congestion across central and south China continued to constrain capacity, providing further support to freight rates. According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight , eight blank sailings are scheduled for next week, unchanged from this week and indicating stable available capacity in the market. As a result, Drewry expects the volatility in rates to reduce in the coming week. On the Asia–Europe trade route, spot rates remained stable this week. Freight rates from Shanghai to Genoa fell 2% to $5,506 per 40ft container and those from Shanghai to Rotterdam held steady at $4,653 per 40ft container. According to Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight , three blank sailings were recorded this week and the same number is scheduled for next week on the Asia–Europe trade lane. As carriers continue to manage available capacity, Drewry expects rates to remain stable next week. The East–West container freight market remained volatile amid Middle East tensions, new US tariffs and congestion at Asian ports. Iran and the US resumed hostilities in late July, increasing uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and prompting several carriers to introduce Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) from August. Meanwhile, carriers continued to manage capacity thr

Drewry notes ongoing Hormuz / US–Iran tension with carriers announcing Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS).

Reliable daily purchase prices for new, One Trip and used boxes are not publicly available at freight-index depth. Directional signals below refer to ocean freight, not equipment acquisition prices.

Short-term (2–6 weeks): Spot rates likely remain under moderate downward pressure while capacity expands and blank sailings ease — geopolitical shocks can reverse that quickly.

Medium-term (3–6 months): A broader return to Suez would release effective capacity; continued instability would preserve longer transit times and higher operating costs.

Market conclusion: commercially active, operationally unstable, highly sensitive to capacity and security shifts. Compare routes and terms — do not rely on a single global trend.