This relative stability is reflected on most lanes, indicating that, with few exceptions, carriers extended rates for the first fortnight into the second. See detailed commentary below.
IACI holds steady as congestion eases
• The Drewry Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), the benchmark widely referenced by procurement teams, increased $46 to $1,504 per 40ft container. This relative stability is reflected on most lanes, indicating that, with few exceptions, carriers extended rates for the first fortnight into the second.
• Spot rates from Greater China to Northeast, Southeast and South Asia were mostly stable this week. The main ports, including the large Chinese ports and the major transhipment hub Singapore, have managed to absorb the congestion, resulting in stabilisation and small reductions on Shanghai–Singapore and Shanghai–Tanjung Pelepas. Rates from Shanghai to Singapore fell 3% to $1,889 per 40ft container, while those to Tanjung Pelepas fell 2% to $2,053 per 40ft container. Some smaller ports, however, are still struggling with congestion, and rates from Shanghai to Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Laem Chabang remain very high and are still rising. Jakarta is particularly sensitive because its limited operational flexibility makes it hard to cope with vessel bunching. Average vessel waiting times at Ho Chi Minh City rose from 8 to 22 hours over the past fortnight, as of Week 43. The deteriorating situation in the Middle East kept Shanghai–Jebel Ali rates elevated at $8,584 per 40ft container. Drewry expects rates to remain broadly stable in the coming weeks, although further capacity additions could add to supply and threaten market stability.
• Spot rates on trade routes across Southeast and Northeast Asia remained mostly stable, except for routes originating from Jakarta and Shanghai. Rates from Jakarta to Shanghai increased 9% to $81 per 40ft container. Separately, Pacific International Lines (PIL) is set to launch its new JKS service on 5 November to strengthen its Straits–Indonesia network. The fortnightly service will deploy two vessels of 1,900–2,600 TEU, calling at Singapore, Laem Chabang and Jakarta. Drewry expects freight rates to stabilise in the coming weeks.
• Geopolitical and weather-related disruption remains a key risk for Intra-Asia trade, as port closures and vessel delays could tighten capacity and put upward pressure on freight rates. Typhoon Champi, which struck East Asia on 23 October, disrupted vessel movements and caused shipping delays, while high bunker costs and ongoing US–Iran tensions continued to push rates up. The Intra-Asia container Index is already around 200% higher than a year ago
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) reports actual spot container freight rates for major intra-Asia trade routes. The Index, which will be updated weekly (from 02 Jan 26), consists of 18 route-specific indices representing individual shipping routes and a composite index. All indices are reported in USD per 40ft container. Market freight rates are collected for the following routes:
• Busan-Shanghai
• Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai
• Jakarta-Shanghai
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port-Shanghai
• Kaohsiung-Shanghai
• Laem Chabang-Shanghai
• Shanghai-Busan
• Shanghai-Ho Chi Minh City
• Shanghai-Jakarta
• Shanghai-Jawaharlal Nehru Port
• Shanghai-Jebel Ali
• Shanghai-Kaohsiung
• Shanghai-Laem Chabang
• Shanghai-Manila
• Shanghai-Singapore
• Shanghai-Tanjung Pelepas
• Shanghai-Yokohama
• Yokohama-Shanghai
