Dropped $265 in two weeks!WCI dropped to US$4,374, and Asia-Europe and Asian routes cooled down acro
- Author:Maintenance network
- Source:Maintenance network
- Release Date:2026-07-25
In late July, global container freight rates entered an adjustment phase after ending the previous continuous rise.The latest data from Drewry shows that the World Container Freight Index (WCI) fell for the second consecutive week, with freight rates on trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe and Asia regional routes all falling to varying degrees.At the same time, shipping companies continue to resume shipping capacity and reduce the number of suspended sailings. Coupled with fuel cost pressures caused by changes in U.S. tariff policies and the situation in the Middle East, the market has entered a new round of supply and demand rebalancing.
PART.01 WCI fell for the second consecutive week. According to data released by Drewry on July 23, the World Container Freight Index (WCI) fell by 4% from the previous week to US$4,374/FEU; it has fallen by a total of US$265 from the stage high on July 9, a decrease of approximately 5.7%.The Intra-Asia Container Freight Index (IACI) fell 2% simultaneously to US$960/FEU, falling for the fifth consecutive week.Among them, the trans-Pacific route has the most obvious decline: Shanghai-Los Angeles: US$5,878/FEU, a weekly decrease of 6%; Shanghai-New York: US$7,598/FEU, a weekly decrease of 4%.Drewry pointed out that the recent decline in freight rates in the U.S. line market is mainly due to shipping companies continuing to increase the supply of space, while the demand for early shipments due to tariff expectations has gradually cooled down, and the market supply and demand relationship has begun to change.In addition to changes in freight rates, the pace of capacity deployment is also worthy of attention.According to the latest monitoring by Drewry's "Container Capacity Insight", there are only 6 blank sailings on the trans-Pacific route next week, a further decrease from 9 this week, which means more capacity will re-enter the market.Compared with the stage in early July when there were only a few empty sailings, shipping companies have gradually resumed sailings. At the same time, new ships continue to be delivered, and the overall available space in the market continues to increase, putting a certain pressure on freight rates.Drewry predicts that U.S. line spot freight rates may remain relatively stable in the short term, but the upward momentum has significantly weakened.
PART.02 The Asia-Europe route weakened simultaneously and the European direction also saw a correction.The latest data shows: the freight rate from Shanghai to Genoa was reported at US$5,988/FEU, a weekly decrease of 5%; the freight rate from Shanghai to Rotterdam was reported at US$4,824/FEU, a weekly decrease of 1%.At the same time, the number of planned suspensions on the Asia-Europe route next week will increase to 4, an increase of 2 from the previous week, but the overall market capacity is still relatively sufficient.Drewry believes that against the background of limited recovery in European import demand and relatively loose market supply, there is still room for a slight correction in freight rates on the Asia-Europe route in the coming week.
PART.03 The Asian regional market continues to cool down. The Asian regional market continues to adjust.IACI data shows that freight rates on routes from Shanghai to India's Nehru Port, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City continue to fall.At the same time, early congestion in many ports in Southeast Asia continues to improve, ship waiting times are shortened, and regional logistics efficiency has recovered.The industry generally believes that as regional trade demand recovers and stabilizes, intra-Asian routes will still face certain price pressures in the short term.
PART.04 Geopolitics and fuel surcharges have become important variables in the future. Although freight rates have fallen overall, market risk factors have not subsided.Drewry pointed out that the relationship between the United States and Iran continues to be tense, and shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz is still a concern of the market.Affected by this, many international liner companies have recently announced the implementation of a new Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) from August 2026 to cover potential increases in fuel and operating costs.At the same time, the United States’ new round of tariff policies has also entered the implementation stage.The previous phased tariff arrangements for imported goods have been adjusted, and the market is re-evaluating the shipment pace and cargo flow in the next few weeks, which will also continue to affect the demand performance of trans-Pacific routes.
PART.01 WCI fell for the second consecutive week. According to data released by Drewry on July 23, the World Container Freight Index (WCI) fell by 4% from the previous week to US$4,374/FEU; it has fallen by a total of US$265 from the stage high on July 9, a decrease of approximately 5.7%.The Intra-Asia Container Freight Index (IACI) fell 2% simultaneously to US$960/FEU, falling for the fifth consecutive week.Among them, the trans-Pacific route has the most obvious decline: Shanghai-Los Angeles: US$5,878/FEU, a weekly decrease of 6%; Shanghai-New York: US$7,598/FEU, a weekly decrease of 4%.Drewry pointed out that the recent decline in freight rates in the U.S. line market is mainly due to shipping companies continuing to increase the supply of space, while the demand for early shipments due to tariff expectations has gradually cooled down, and the market supply and demand relationship has begun to change.In addition to changes in freight rates, the pace of capacity deployment is also worthy of attention.According to the latest monitoring by Drewry's "Container Capacity Insight", there are only 6 blank sailings on the trans-Pacific route next week, a further decrease from 9 this week, which means more capacity will re-enter the market.Compared with the stage in early July when there were only a few empty sailings, shipping companies have gradually resumed sailings. At the same time, new ships continue to be delivered, and the overall available space in the market continues to increase, putting a certain pressure on freight rates.Drewry predicts that U.S. line spot freight rates may remain relatively stable in the short term, but the upward momentum has significantly weakened.
PART.02 The Asia-Europe route weakened simultaneously and the European direction also saw a correction.The latest data shows: the freight rate from Shanghai to Genoa was reported at US$5,988/FEU, a weekly decrease of 5%; the freight rate from Shanghai to Rotterdam was reported at US$4,824/FEU, a weekly decrease of 1%.At the same time, the number of planned suspensions on the Asia-Europe route next week will increase to 4, an increase of 2 from the previous week, but the overall market capacity is still relatively sufficient.Drewry believes that against the background of limited recovery in European import demand and relatively loose market supply, there is still room for a slight correction in freight rates on the Asia-Europe route in the coming week.
PART.03 The Asian regional market continues to cool down. The Asian regional market continues to adjust.IACI data shows that freight rates on routes from Shanghai to India's Nehru Port, Manila, and Ho Chi Minh City continue to fall.At the same time, early congestion in many ports in Southeast Asia continues to improve, ship waiting times are shortened, and regional logistics efficiency has recovered.The industry generally believes that as regional trade demand recovers and stabilizes, intra-Asian routes will still face certain price pressures in the short term.
PART.04 Geopolitics and fuel surcharges have become important variables in the future. Although freight rates have fallen overall, market risk factors have not subsided.Drewry pointed out that the relationship between the United States and Iran continues to be tense, and shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz is still a concern of the market.Affected by this, many international liner companies have recently announced the implementation of a new Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) from August 2026 to cover potential increases in fuel and operating costs.At the same time, the United States’ new round of tariff policies has also entered the implementation stage.The previous phased tariff arrangements for imported goods have been adjusted, and the market is re-evaluating the shipment pace and cargo flow in the next few weeks, which will also continue to affect the demand performance of trans-Pacific routes.