Container Spot Rates Edge Higher as Peak Season Faces Mid-July Test

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Container freight spot rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades showed moderate gains this week, in the absence of carrier-led price hikes, while demand remained firm.

This week’s World Container Index (WCI) from Drewry saw its Shanghai-Rotterdam leg gain 5% on the previous week, to end a shade under the $5,000 mark, at $4,933 per 40ft, while the Shanghai-Genoa route was up 2%, to $6,463 per 40ft.

Next week is likely to be an acid test of the Asia-Europe peak season and how much longer it will remain – a series of new