Global ocean container freight rates continued their downward momentum, with the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) falling about 10 % in the week of Jan. 19–23 to roughly US $2,212 per 40-ft container, marking the second consecutive weekly decline in key ocean freight rates.
The drop in the composite index was driven by softer pricing across both Trans-Pacific and Asia–Europe trade lanes. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York slid about 11 %, while those from Shanghai to Los Angeles declined around 12 %. On the Asia–Europe routes, Shanghai–Rotterdam and Shanghai–Genoa rates also eased, down roughly 9 % and 8 % respectively, as carriers continued to respond to reduced cargo demand after the recent post-holiday rush.
Carriers reacted to the weakening market by increasing blank sailings (cancelled vessel departures) in an effort to better match shipping capacity with current trade volumes, a common tactic when freight activity slows and pricing pressure intensifies. Analysts expect freight rates could continue to soften further in the coming weeks as demand remains subdued and carriers manage capacity cautiously.
Divergent operational decisions by some carriers — such as rerouting services and spacing out capacity re-entries into the market — illustrate the challenges of balancing network efficiency with pricing stability in a period of uneven global trade flows.
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