Drewry: World Container Index Down 3%<\/p>\n
For many years, World Container Index (WCI) has been the go-to, independent, global reference for index-linked contracts. If your organisation is considering index-linked contracts or requires regional visibility\/coverage beyond the eight trade lanes provided below, contact our ocean freight cost benchmarking team.<\/p>\n
Six-week rally ends as Drewry WCI slips 3%.<\/p>\n
Our detailed assessment for Thursday, 16 April 2026<\/p>\n
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) recently snapped a six-week rally\u2014a surge initially triggered by higher bunker fuel prices following the late-February conflict in the Middle East. After trending downwards throughout January and early February, the index spiked in response to these geopolitical oil supply disruptions. That brief upwards momentum has now reversed, with the WCI falling 3% to $2,246 per 40ft container amid declining rates on Asia\u2013Europe and Transpacific lanes.<\/p>\n
Spot rates from Shanghai to New York and Los Angeles decreased 3% to $3,552 and $2,810, respectively, per 40ft container. As per Drewry\u2019s Container Capacity Insight, 9 blank sailings have been announced on the Transpacific trade route for next week to maintain capacity. Few carriers have announced a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) of around $2,000 per 40ft container, effective 1 May. Drewry expects freight rates to remain less volatile in the coming weeks before the implementation of the announced PSS.<\/p>\n
Spot rates on the Shanghai\u2013Rotterdam trade route decreased 3% to $2,229 per 40ft container, while rates on Shanghai\u2013Genoa fell 2% to $3,343 per 40ft container. Carriers are increasing effective capacity on this trade, as only one blank sailing has been announced so far. Meanwhile, ZIM has announced a new bunker factor (NBF) of $850 per container, effective 1 May, but for now Drewry expects freight rates to remain stable next week.<\/p>\n
The US-led naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz has halted or restricted ships linked to Iran, with multiple vessels turned back. The disruption has strongly impacted global oil supply chains and pushed oil prices even higher. If ongoing negotiations fail, shippers should prepare for reduced schedule reliability, potential port omissions, longer lead times and upwards pressure on freight rates.<\/p>\n
Ocean spot market freight rates against 6,700 global port pairs<\/p>\n
If you need spot market container freight rate information on other routes to those above, find out more about our Container Freight Rate Insight (CFRI) online service, which covers 6,700 global port pairs updated monthly (2,450 updated fortnightly).<\/p>\n
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