According to the latest reading of the Drewry World Container Index, global container shipping rates have increased by 12% this week to reach $2,182 per 40-foot container, marking a third consecutive week of increases and a successful turnaround by carriers from the recent sl in rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe routes.

The rebound in rates comes as a marked change from the weakness seen in the previous week, when the rate on the eastbound transpacific route fell to its second-lowest level since January 2025. This week, the transpacific eastbound led the, with rates from Shanghai to New York surging 19% to reach $3,293 per container and from Shanghai to Los Angeles climbing 18% to2,474 per container.

The increase in rates comes despite carriers having announced 10 blank sailings on the transpacific trade next week, a sign demand is more resilient than the cancelled sailings would indicate.

The Asia-Europe trade also showed a similarly strong performance, with the spot rate from Shanghai to Genoaging 10% to reach $3,314 per container and from Shanghai to Rotterdam increasing 8% to $2,539 per container. on the route have now been stable or rising for three consecutive weeks.

The continued rise in rates on the Asia-Europe trade reflects a fundamental shift in the seasonal pattern the past three years. Drewry recorded a double-digit increase in demand on a month-on-month basis in December, with a strong year-end peak in volumes becoming “new normal” for the shipping consultancy.

With the lunar new year falling in February 2026, carriers have begun to accept advance bookings, and Drewry therefore forecast a further slight increase in rates next week.

The current market dynamic stands in stark contrast to the situation just a week ago, when the 11 December index rates continuing to fall on the transpacific trade while the Asia-Europe trade was showing some signs of strengthening. At the time, the rate from Shanghai to Los Angeles had 7% week-on-week to $2,103 per container, and carriers were still struggling to find enough cargo despite the increase in blank sailings.

“Despite the increase in blank sailings to prop up the falling spot rates, the strategy is not effective due to the lack of volume,” read Drewry’s Containeracity Insight at the time. The report described the weakness in rates as a reflection of “a fundamental volume issue”, with most of the Christmas inventory having been shipped in November

The sharp reversal in fortunes in the space of a week highlights the ongoing volatility in the container shipping market. With the industry grappling with shifts in seasonal patterns, challenges in management and ongoing geopolitical turmoil affecting key trade routes, the market remains full of uncertainties.