In the past week, key intra-Asia container trades have seen a sharp increase in spot rates, with Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index rising around 10% and several corridors posting double‑digit gains. Shanghai–Laem Chabang and Shanghai–Manila spot rates climbed 24–27% per 40ft unit, while Shanghai–Jawaharlal Nehru Port rose about 20%, underscoring a tighter supply–demand balance in Asian short‑sea markets. Global benchmarks such as the Freightos Baltic Index and Drewry’s World Container Index confirm a broader upswing in container freight rates and carrier profitability.
According to industry data released on 30.08.2026, Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index increased by roughly 10% week on week, with selected lanes showing even more pronounced rate spikes. The Shanghai–Laem Chabang route saw spot rates surge 27% to about USD 1,024 per 40ft container, while Shanghai–Manila climbed 24% to around USD 691. On the Shanghai–Jawaharlal Nehru Port service, rates advanced 20% to approximately USD 3,568 per 40ft, signalling mounting capacity pressure on South and Southeast Asian trades. At the same time, global indicators such as the Freightos Baltic Index for transpacific routes point to a firming trend in container spot markets, with China/East Asia–US West Coast and East Coast benchmarks remaining near multi‑month highs. Taiwanese and Chinese business media, citing Drewry’s World Container Index, note that average global box rates more than doubled in the second quarter, reaching about USD 4,639 per 40ft in early July, which provides the broader backdrop for the current upward movement.
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