Spot container rates on key China–US routes continued to climb through September 18–19, 2026, with Xeneta and Drewry WCI data showing levels near COVID-era records and strong weekly increases on Shanghai–Los Angeles and Shanghai–New York services. At the same time, industry reports highlight pronounced volatility and a clear divergence between rising transpacific and softening Asia–Europe rates.
As of September 18–19, 2026, spot container freight rates on major transpacific trades from China to the US are rising and moving close to their record highs seen during the COVID-19 boom, according to data from Xeneta and Drewry’s World Container Index. On the Shanghai–Los Angeles corridor, rates have climbed to around $7,700–$7,800 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai–New York has reached roughly $10,400–$10,900 per FEU. Concurrently, regional figures from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, reported in Asian business media, confirm further increases on US-bound services alongside falling prices on routes to Europe and the Mediterranean.
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