The divide between major container shipping trades widened further in the latest weekly freight index readings, with Transpacific rates posting strong gains while Asia-Europe continued to move lower.
The broader indexes remained mixed. SCFI and CCFI increased, while NCFI and the Freightos Baltic Index declined. Drewry’s World Container Index edged higher, supported by rising Transpacific rates.
Chinese freight indexes remain divided
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) increased 0.7% to 3,687.83 points from 3,662.18 in the previous reading.
The broader China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) recorded a stronger increase, rising 1.9% to 1,897.15 points from 1,862.18.
Ningbo moved in the opposite direction. The Ningbo Containerized Freight Index (NCFI) declined 1.8% to 2,535.27 points from 2,582.64 previously.
The latest readings therefore continue to show different movements among China’s main container freight benchmarks.
NYFI shows strong Transpacific gains
The latest NYSHEX Freight Index (NYFI) readings showed significant increases on both major Asia-US trades.
Asia-US West Coast climbed 7.45% to 7,076.39, while Asia-US East Coast increased 4.71% to 9,165.69.
Asia-North Europe moved firmly in the opposite direction, declining 3.93% to 3,752.11.
The Transatlantic market showed particularly sharp divergence. Westbound rates jumped 17.40% to 2,717.43, while eastbound rates fell 15.01% to 1,027.10.
Drewry shows widening Transpacific-Europe gap
Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) increased 1% to US$4,500 per 40-foot container, supported by higher Transpacific rates.
Shanghai-Los Angeles increased 5% to US$7,712 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai-New York climbed 7% to US$10,394.
Europe moved sharply in the opposite direction. Shanghai-Rotterdam dropped 9% to US$3,626, while Shanghai-Genoa declined 5% to US$4,016.
According to Drewry, this marked the seventh consecutive week of divergent trends between the Transpacific and Asia-Europe trades. The consultancy pointed to pre-Golden Week demand and carrier capacity management as support for Transpacific rates, while weaker demand and the gradual return of services through the Suez Canal continued to weigh on Asia-Europe.
FBX falls 3%
The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) Global Container Freight Index declined 3% in its latest weekly reading to US$3,407.
Freightos Weekly Update: Red Sea transits accelerate, even as Houthis advance
The fall follows the previous week’s 1% decline to US$3,499, extending the downward movement in the global benchmark.
The FBX therefore continues to provide a softer headline signal than the SCFI, CCFI and WCI.
What the freight indexes are telling us
The strongest signal this week again comes from individual trade routes rather than the composite indexes.
NYFI and Drewry both show substantial Transpacific gains. NYFI recorded increases of 7.45% on Asia-US West Coast and 4.71% on Asia-US East Coast, while Drewry reported gains of 5% on Shanghai-Los Angeles and 7% on Shanghai-New York.
Asia-Europe continues to show the opposite trend. NYFI’s Asia-North Europe reading declined 3.93%, while Drewry recorded a 9% drop on Shanghai-Rotterdam and a 5% fall on Shanghai-Genoa.
At composite level, however, the picture remains mixed. SCFI and CCFI increased, NCFI and FBX declined, and WCI edged higher.
The indexes use different methodologies and reporting schedules, so their absolute values are not directly comparable. Their route-level direction, however, provides increasingly consistent evidence of strengthening Transpacific conditions alongside sustained pressure on Asia-Europe freight rates.
What to watch next
China’s approaching Golden Week will be central to the next readings.
Pre-holiday demand and carrier capacity management could continue to support Transpacific rates, while Asia-Europe remains under pressure from weaker demand and changes in available capacity.
The next index updates will show whether the widening gap between the two major East-West trades continues.
