At headline level, the major benchmarks remained mixed. The SCFI and CCFI moved higher, while the NCFI and Freightos Baltic Index declined and Drewry’s World Container Index remained broadly stable.
Chinese freight indexes show mixed movement
Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) increased 2.3% to 3,590.05 points, up from 3,509.54 in the previous reading.
The broader China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) recorded a smaller increase, rising 0.2% to 1,837.01 points from 1,833.99.
The Ningbo Containerized Freight Index (NCFI), however, moved in the opposite direction. The index declined 0.6% to 2,591.28 points from 2,607.4 previously.
Together, the three Chinese benchmarks point to a relatively stable overall export freight environment, despite different movements between Shanghai and Ningbo.
NYFI shows pressure on Europe
The latest NYSHEX Freight Index (NYFI) readings showed a mixed Transpacific market but continued weakness on the Asia-Europe trade.
Asia-US West Coast increased approximately 1% to 6,361.11 from 6,299.85.
Asia-US East Coast moved lower, declining around 2.1% to 8,063.84 from 8,232.85.
The decline was more pronounced on Asia-North Europe, where the index fell approximately 4.1% to 4,058.96 from 4,232.85.
Transatlantic routes also weakened. Westbound rates dropped approximately 8.7% to 2,344.44, while eastbound rates decreased around 1.3% to 1,154.23.
Drewry shows Transpacific gains and Europe declines
Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) remained broadly stable at US$4,465 per 40-foot container in its latest assessment.
The stable composite reading, however, masked sharply different regional movements.
Shanghai-Los Angeles increased 5% to US$7,185 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai-New York rose 3% to US$9,587.
Europe moved firmly in the opposite direction. Shanghai-Rotterdam declined 5% to US$4,092, while Shanghai-Genoa dropped 10% to US$4,368.
The WCI therefore shows a clear divergence between strengthening Transpacific spot rates and continued downward pressure on Asia-Europe trades.
FBX declines 2%
Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) Global Container Freight Index declined 2% in its latest weekly reading to US$3,520.
The fall contrasts with the increases recorded by the SCFI and CCFI and highlights the mixed direction of the broader container freight market.
What the freight indexes are telling us
The latest readings reinforce the increasingly regional nature of container freight-rate movements.
At composite level, there is no single direction. SCFI increased 2.3% and CCFI edged 0.2% higher, while NCFI declined 0.6%, FBX fell 2% and the WCI was broadly stable.
The underlying trade data provide a clearer picture.
On the Transpacific, Drewry recorded increases on both Shanghai-Los Angeles and Shanghai-New York, while NYFI showed a gain on Asia-US West Coast but a decline on Asia-US East Coast.
Europe showed more consistent weakness. NYFI’s Asia-North Europe rate declined 4.1%, while Drewry reported a 5% fall on Shanghai-Rotterdam and a 10% decline on Shanghai-Genoa.
Although the indexes use different methodologies and reporting schedules, the latest readings suggest that the gap between conditions on the Transpacific and Asia-Europe trades is becoming increasingly visible.
What to watch next
The key question is whether the Transpacific can maintain its relative strength while European rates continue to decline.
Further weakness across Asia-Europe benchmarks would reinforce the current trend, while the next Transpacific readings will show whether recent gains represent sustained momentum or a shorter-term market adjustment.
