Backhaul east-west container rates were up this week in the Europe-to-Asia and trans-Pacific westbound lanes, according to the latest release of the World Container Index.
World Container Index Rates to Shanghai
Source: WCI
World Container Index Rates from Rotterdam and Los Angeles to Shanghai, as of March 7, 2013.For a larger version of the chart, click on the image.
Europe-to-Asia eastbound rates from Rotterdam to Shanghai rose by 2.4 percent or $25, to $1,073 per 40-foot container, and are up 14.6 percent since the beginning of the year, when the index stood at $936. As of March 7, the index was 104 percent higher than it was at the same point in 2012.
Trans-Pacific westbound rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai jumped 4 percent or $36 to $946 per FEU after three weeks stuck at $910. This increase put rates up 8.2 percent since the beginning of the year, when the index was $874. As of March 7, the index was 9.1 percent higher than it was at the same point a year earlier.
This was the first increase in the rates of either trade lane since the week of Feb. 7 and put rates at their highest point in 2013.
Complete coverage of trans-Pacific maritime trade.