Global Container Shipping Rates Rise for Fourth Straight Week: What’s Driving the Momentum?

Global container shipping rates edged up 1% this week to $2,213 per 40-foot container, marking the fourth consecutive weekly increase. At first glance, a 1% rise may sound modest. In reality, it signals something far more important—a shift in market sentiment as carriers enter the new year with renewed confidence.

The increase reflects sustained demand across major trade routes, especially Asia–Europe and Transpacific lanes. After weeks of volatility and rate pressure, the market appears to be stabilizing. For shippers, freight forwarders, and carriers alike, this trend matters more than any single percentage point.

Let’s break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what the coming weeks could bring.

Sorce: fidifocus

Drewry World Container Index Confirms a Four-Week Recovery

The widely followed Drewry World Container Index (WCI) has now logged four straight weeks of gains. This recovery began in early December, after rates dipped to their second-lowest levels since January 2025.

That low point raised serious concerns across the industry. Many analysts believed carriers faced a structural demand slowdown. Instead, the market surprised almost everyone.

The WCI rebound confirms that December demand is no longer behaving like it used to. The old assumption—that volumes fade after November—no longer holds true.

Asia–Europe Routes Lead the Charge

Shanghai to Genoa and Rotterdam Rates Strengthen

Asia–Europe trade lanes delivered the strongest performance this week.

• Shanghai to Genoa rates increased 3% to $3,427 per 40-foot container

• Shanghai to Rotterdam rates rose 2% to $2,584 per container

More importantly, these routes have now shown stable or rising rates for four consecutive weeks. That consistency matters. It suggests demand isn’t just spiking—it’s sustaining.

Carriers rarely raise rates successfully unless cargo volumes support them. The fact that Asia–Europe rates continue to climb indicates real demand, not artificial pricing.

December Volumes Are Redefining “Peak Season”

According to Drewry’s assessment, December demand has posted double-digit month-on-month growth for three consecutive years. That trend has effectively rewritten the industry playbook.

December is no longer a quiet month.

Instead, it has become what many carriers now describe as the “new normal” for strong year-end volumes. Retail restocking, diversified sourcing strategies, and supply chain risk management have all contributed to this shift.

In simple terms, shippers are no longer waiting until the last minute—or the traditional peak season—to move cargo.

Early Lunar New Year Bookings Add Fuel

Another major driver sits just ahead on the calendar.

Carriers are already recording early bookings ahead of the Lunar New Year in February 2026. Traditionally, Lunar New Year-related demand ramps up closer to the holiday. This time, bookings are arriving earlier than expected.

That early momentum tightens available capacity sooner. When demand moves forward, rates usually follow.

For Asia–Europe routes, this early build-up increases the likelihood of further rate increases in the coming weeks.

Transpacific Routes Take a Breather—But Stay Firm

Shanghai to US East and West Coast Hold Steady

After posting double-digit gains last week, Transpacific rates stabilized during the latest period.

• Shanghai to New York: $3,293 per container

• Shanghai to Los Angeles: $2,474 per container

Holding steady after sharp rebounds isn’t a weakness. It’s a sign that the market is digesting recent gains without losing momentum.

Drewry expects near-term stability on Transpacific routes, with no immediate correction in sight. That outlook contrasts sharply with fears voiced just weeks ago.

From “Volume Problem” to Market Rebound—Fast

Only two weeks earlier, the industry faced a very different narrative.

At that time, analysts spoke openly about a “fundamental volume problem.” Most Christmas inventory had already shipped in November. Demand looked thin. Carriers increased blank sailings—cancelled voyages designed to cut capacity and defend rates.

Those blank sailings failed to stop the decline.

Then the market turned—quickly.

This rapid reversal highlights a key truth about container shipping: sentiment can change faster than schedules. When demand appears, pricing power returns almost overnight.

Why Blank Sailings Still Matter

Blank sailings remain a critical tool for carriers. They allow operators to manage capacity without flooding the market.

However, recent weeks prove an important point. Blank sailings alone cannot create demand. They only work when cargo volumes exist.

This time, demand showed up naturally—through stronger Asia–Europe flows, early Lunar New Year bookings, and sustained December volumes. That combination gave carriers room to hold and lift rates.

Geopolitics Continue to Shape Freight Markets

Beyond demand, geopolitical disruptions still influence global shipping.

Rerouted vessels, longer transit times, and regional instability continue to tighten effective capacity on certain lanes. Even when global fleet capacity appears sufficient on paper, real-world conditions often tell a different story.

These disruptions add volatility, but they also reinforce one reality: buffer capacity matters more than ever.

What This Means for Shippers

For shippers, the current environment sends a clear message.

Rates are no longer in free fall. Waiting for dramatic declines may backfire, especially on Asia–Europe lanes. Forward planning and early bookings offer better cost control than last-minute spot market decisions.

Shippers who adapt to the new seasonality model—where December and early Q1 remain active—will face fewer surprises.

What This Means for Carriers

For carriers, the four-week rebound validates disciplined capacity management. It also proves that demand patterns have changed structurally, not temporarily.

Carriers entering 2026 face a market that rewards timing, flexibility, and early customer engagement. Those who align schedules with emerging demand cycles stand to benefit most.

Volatility Isn’t Gone—It’s Evolving

Despite recent gains, volatility remains part of the container shipping DNA.

Seasonal shifts, capacity adjustments, and geopolitical risks will continue to push rates up and down. The difference now lies in how fast the market reacts.

In 2025 and beyond, container shipping no longer moves in slow, predictable cycles. It reacts in weeks—not quarters.

Key Takeaways at a Glance

• Global container rates rose 1% to $2,213 per FEU, marking four consecutive weekly gains

• Asia–Europe routes led the increase, with strong performance to Genoa and Rotterdam

• December demand has become structurally strong, not seasonal noise

• Early Lunar New Year bookings are tightening capacity sooner than usual

• Transpacific rates remain stable after sharp rebounds

• Market sentiment reversed rapidly from early-December lows

Final Thoughts: A Market Finding Its New Rhythm

The latest rise in global container shipping rates isn’t just another data point. It reflects a market adjusting to new realities.

Traditional peak seasons are fading. Demand timing has shifted. Carriers and shippers who recognize these changes early will navigate the volatility more effectively.

For now, the message is clear: the recovery is real, the momentum is building, and complacency carries a cost.

As the industry heads deeper into the new year, one thing looks certain—container shipping remains unpredictable, but it’s far from weak.