Drewry Container Index Rises for Second Week as Asia-Europe Capacity Tightens

Container shipping rates have turned higher for a second consecutive week, with the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) reaching its highest point in 15 weeks. The index stood at $4,585 per 40-foot container on October 22, 2026, up 2% from the previous week. Higher charges on Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes contributed to the increase.

For shippers, the route data show different pressures behind the broader index move. Asia-Europe pricing rose alongside a planned increase in sailing cancellations, while Drewry linked Transpacific rates to continued U.S. import demand. Meanwhile, ship waiting times at Shanghai fell sharply from their earlier peak, indicating improved port operations even as freight prices increased.

Asia-Europe rates rise as cancellations increase

Drewry measured the spot rate from Shanghai to Rotterdam at $3,632 per 40-foot container, 3% higher week on week. The Shanghai-Genoa rate rose 5% to $4,152. These route increases formed part of the upward movement in Asia-Europe container pricing.

Capacity plans are a key part of Drewry’s near-term assessment. Carriers announced eight sailing cancellations on the Asia-Europe route for the upcoming week, compared with two for the current week. Drewry said operators are seeking to support rates by reducing the capacity they offer through cancelled sailings. It expects rates on the route to rise slightly next week as available capacity tightens.

For cargo planners, the cancellation figures provide a measure of scheduled capacity changes, while the reported spot rates show the prices Drewry tracked for the named routes. The source does not specify how individual contracts or bookings will be affected. Shippers arranging Asia-Europe moves can use the figures as market indicators, while checking their own service schedules and rate terms for route-specific details.

Transpacific prices remain elevated

Rates also increased on the two Transpacific lanes reported by Drewry. Shanghai-Los Angeles climbed 2% to $8,007 per 40-foot container. Shanghai-New York rose 1% to $10,166. Drewry said strong U.S. import demand continues to support pricing on the route.

The cancellation pattern differs from Asia-Europe. Carriers announced two cancellations for the upcoming week on the Transpacific route, down from six in the current week. Drewry interprets the decline as a sign that shipping capacity is being used more efficiently and expects Transpacific rates to remain stable next week.

That outlook points to a market with high rates but a less restrictive near-term sailing schedule than the current week’s cancellations might suggest. The stability expectation is Drewry’s forecast, while the reported figures capture the latest weekly prices and announced service changes. Demand and the capacity carriers make available remain central to how those prices may develop.

Shanghai waiting times fall

Port conditions in Asia moved in a different direction from freight rates. Drewry reported that waiting time for ships at Shanghai Port dropped from 97 hours in week 38 to 38 hours in week 42. The report describes this as a significant improvement in port operations.

Shorter waits can ease one source of operational delay for vessels calling at the port. In this case, the reduction occurred alongside rising freight rates, showing that better reported port waiting times did not prevent prices from increasing on the routes Drewry tracked. The source does not quantify any effect on vessel schedules, transit times or the amount of capacity available to shippers.

Gulf and canal vessel counts shift

Drewry also recorded fewer container ships entering the Persian Gulf: two in week 42, compared with five in the previous week. Container ship sailings through the Suez Canal edged up from 54 in week 41 to 55 in week 42. The report notes that regional risks continue to affect vessel operations and route decisions, but provides no specific explanation for the week-to-week changes in these counts.

Those figures offer a snapshot of vessel movements in the two areas. They sit alongside the reported changes in port waits and sailing cancellations, each of which describes a different part of network operations. The data do not establish that one movement caused another.

Capacity remains a key rate factor

Drewry described the outlook for the East-West container market as uncertain. On Asia-Europe, it said operators are trying to support rates by limiting capacity and applying additional charges. On the Transpacific, U.S. import demand remains an influence on prices. Better port operations in Asia coexist with those factors, while vessel movements and regional risks add further uncertainty to routing.

The immediate takeaway for supply chain teams is that the WCI’s 2% gain covers distinct route conditions: Asia-Europe rates rose as more cancellations were announced, while Transpacific rates increased despite fewer planned cancellations for the coming week. Drewry expects a slight Asia-Europe increase and stable Transpacific rates next week. Demand and carriers’ capacity adjustments will remain the main indicators to watch in its near-term outlook.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye