Asia-Europe rates pass $10,000
Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam pass $10,000 per teu for first time.
The Drewry World Container Index released on Thursday shows that rates for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Rotterdam rose to $10,174, up 3.1% from a week ago. The increase is a leap of 485% over a year ago.
Drewry’s composite index of eight major routes rose 2% to $6,257 from a week earlier.
The sky-high freight rates means newcomers like CULines have been able to market regular services using 4,200-teu-class ships on a tradelane that usually sees vessels in the 18,000+ teu range.
It has also been a record-breaking year so far for new tonnage — with 2.2m teu being ordered — more than 12 times what was ordered in the first five months of 2020.
