Carrier Discounts Push Container Spot Rates Lower Ahead of August GRIs

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Container spot freight rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades saw another week of single-digit declines, in the absence of carrier-led price hikes.

But, on the contrary, it appears that despite relatively tight capacity, carrier discounting on Asia-Europe and transpacific tradelanes was largely the cause of this week’s weakness.

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI), saw the spot rate on its Shanghai-Rotterdam leg decline 3% week on week, to finish at $4,677 per 40ft, while the Shanghai-Genoa route was weaker, with a 6% drop to end the week at $5,630 per 40ft, and analysts at