Global container shipping rates edged higher for a fourth consecutive week, signaling renewed momentum in major trade lanes as carriers capitalize on resilient year-end demand. The latest data shows average spot rates climbing 1% to $2,213 per 40-foot container.

Read also: Container Shipping Faces Oversupply Risk Amid Record Ship Orders

According to the Drewry World Container Index (WCI), the sustained upswing is being driven primarily by firmer pricing across Transpacific and Asia–Europe routes. The rebound extends a recovery that began in early December, after rates had fallen to their second-lowest point since January 2025.

Asia–Europe lanes led this week’s gains. Spot rates from Shanghai to Genoa rose 3% to $3,427 per container, while Shanghai–Rotterdam rates increased 2% to $2,584. This marks the fourth straight week of stable or rising rates on the corridor.

Drewry noted that December demand strength is no longer an anomaly. “Over the last three years, Drewry has recorded double-digit month-on-month demand growth in December, establishing strong year-end volumes as the new normal,” the consultancy said.

The continued firmness reflects a shift away from traditional seasonal shipping patterns, with December volumes remaining robust well beyond typical holiday peaks. Carriers are also reporting early bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year in February 2026, setting the stage for potential further rate increases in the weeks ahead.

Transpacific rates, meanwhile, stabilized after posting double-digit gains last week. Spot prices from Shanghai to New York held at $3,293 per container, while rates to Los Angeles remained unchanged at $2,474.

Drewry expects Transpacific pricing to remain steady in the near term, while Asia–Europe routes could see modest additional increases as pre–Lunar New Year cargo volumes build.

The recent rate recovery marks a sharp turnaround from conditions earlier this month, when carriers were grappling with weak post-holiday volumes after most Christmas inventory shipped in November. At that time, widespread blank sailings—used to restrict capacity and support pricing—failed to halt the slide in rates.

The swift reversal highlights the ongoing volatility in container shipping, as carriers navigate shifting seasonal demand, capacity management pressures, and persistent geopolitical disruptions affecting global trade routes.