Drewry WCI Rises 3% as Asia-Europe Rates Rebound

Global container spot rates edged higher in mid-October 2026, with Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) rising 3 per cent to $4,485 per 40-foot container in its assessment for Thursday 15 October. Drewry said the increase came mainly from the Asia to Europe trade.

Asia to Europe ends a 13-week slide

Rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 6 per cent to $3,522 per 40-foot container, and Shanghai to Genoa rose 7 per cent to $3,945. Drewry said this was the first weekly rise on the route after 13 consecutive weeks of decline.

Carriers are trying to push through higher freight-all-kinds (FAK) rates of $4,500 to $4,800 per 40-foot container on Asia to Europe from 19 October. Drewry said it is uncertain whether these will hold, because fewer blank sailings and the return of Suez Canal transits are adding capacity. Two blank sailings were announced for the following week, down from six, and Drewry expected rates to stay stable.

Transpacific holds firm

On the transpacific, Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 3 per cent to $7,884 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to New York slipped 1 per cent to $10,075. Drewry said strong US import demand continues to support high rates, with six blank sailings announced for the next week, unchanged from the week before.

Other indexes also moved up

Container News reported on 19 October that the main composite benchmarks all rose in their latest readings. The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) global index rose 2 per cent to $3,397.20, and China's SCFI rose 0.42 per cent to 3,679.58 points in its 16 October assessment.

The indexes did not agree on Asia to Europe, however. The NYSHEX Freight Index showed Asia to North Europe down 7.08 per cent in its 16 October reading. Container News pointed out that the indexes use different methods, data sources and reporting periods, so their movements are not directly comparable.

What comes next

Drewry said the East-West market rebounded after China's Golden Week holiday as cargo flows resumed. It advised shippers to expect volatility as post-holiday demand, capacity changes and geopolitical uncertainty play out over the coming weeks.

Why it matters for transporters and logistics businesses

• Ocean freight rates shape when and how much Indian exporters and importers ship, which in turn drives demand for container trucking and freight station services around ports.
• Freight forwarders and customs brokers quoting Asia to Europe business should check whether the 19 October FAK increases actually hold before locking in prices with customers.
• Spot rates can swing week to week, so keep an eye on the weekly indexes before committing to contracts. Find cargo and warehousing providers, transporters and logistics software providers on BizGrowthUp.

Source: Drewry; Container News