The Drewry World Container Index has seen a rise of 2% this week, bringing the rate to $2,276 per 40-foot container. This index serves as a reliable, independent global reference for index-linked contracts and has been widely recognized for many years. Organizations looking for insights on regional visibility or considering index-linked contracts can reach out to Drewry’s ocean freight cost benchmarking team for assistance. On Thursday, May 22, 2025, a detailed review of the index revealed that while the current figure is considerably lower than the pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021—78% below—it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Specifically, it is 60% above the average of $1,420 recorded in 2019. The year-to-date composite index has averaged $2,723 per 40-foot container, which is $174 lower than the 10-year average of $2,897, influenced by the unprecedented rates during the COVID-19 period. Freight rates for key trade routes have also experienced fluctuations. For example, the cost of shipping from Shanghai to Genoa and from Shanghai to New York increased by 4%, reaching $2,841 and $4,527 per 40-foot container, respectively.
Meanwhile, rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles went up by 2%, amounting to $3,197 per 40-foot container. Additionally, the rate from Los Angeles to Shanghai saw a small increase of 1%, totaling $713 per 40-foot container. Rates for routes such as Shanghai to Rotterdam and New York to Rotterdam remained stable. Looking ahead, Drewry anticipates a potential rise in spot rates, influenced by recent developments in US-China trade relations.
Carriers are expected to adjust their capacity in response to an increased volume of cargo bookings from China, which could drive up shipping costs in the upcoming week.