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Drewry's World Container Index fell 3% to $4,429 per 40-foot container on October 29, 2026, ending two consecutive weeks of gains as transpacific freight rates retreated sharply. Shanghai–Los Angeles spot rates dropped 6% to $7,514, while Shanghai–New York declined 5% to $9,631, wiping hundreds of dollars off the weekly cost of moving a container to either U.S. coast. Asia–Europe rates held firmer, with Shanghai–Rotterdam gaining 1% to $3,686 and Shanghai–Genoa remaining almost unchanged at $4,151. Drewry expects additional transpacific rate weakness next week, citing softer U.S. import demand despite carrier efforts to restrict sailing capacity.
U.S. Container Rates Break Lower After Two Weeks of Gains
Today's Drewry assessment shows a pronounced transpacific retreat while European import routes hold close to last week's levels.
Drewry weekly composite, October 29
The October Reversal
Four consecutive Thursday readings. The current rate is below the October 15 level despite the intervening rally.
Four Major Eastbound Headhaul Rates
Rates per FEU. Bars compare today's route prices using a common $10,500 scale; weekly moves are shown below each value.
U.S. Container Rates Break Lower After Two Weeks of Gains
Today's Drewry assessment shows a pronounced transpacific retreat while European import routes hold close to last week's levels.
Drewry weekly composite, October 29
The October Reversal
Four consecutive Thursday readings. The current rate is below the October 15 level despite the intervening rally.
Four Major Eastbound Headhaul Rates
Rates per FEU. Bars compare today's route prices using a common $10,500 scale; weekly moves are shown below each value.
What Does This Week's Rate Drop Do to Your Freight Budget?
Select one of Drewry's eight trade lanes, enter shipment volume and spot-market exposure, then compare current freight costs against last week and a hypothetical next-week rate movement.
Freight Booking Assumptions
Booking-period total incorporating the selected spot share, unchanged contract-rate share, quote adjustment and additional charges.
Three Freight Budget Outcomes
Compare the same shipment volume and booking mix at last week's spot rates, today's rates and the selected hypothetical next-week scenario.
Route-specific October 22 and October 29 spot benchmarks are Drewry WCI figures. Shipment volume, contract rate, spot exposure, quoted premium or discount, supplementary charges and future rate movement are user-defined assumptions. This tool treats the specified spot share as repricing at the selected weekly index; actual carrier quotes and contract terms may differ.
Modeled cost = FEUs × [spot exposure × (Drewry benchmark × quote adjustment) + contract share × fixed contract rate + additional non-WCI charges]. The same assumptions are applied to both historical weeks. Next-week estimates change only the spot portion. The calculation does not model carrier-specific free time, detention, demurrage, different equipment classes, taxes, fuel hedging or cargo insurance. Drewry already includes certain ocean and terminal surcharges in its methodology; enter only charges not covered by the index to avoid double counting. A weekly WCI change is not proof that any existing booking has actually repriced.
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