Shanghai–New York jumps 10% while Asia–Europe keeps sliding
The divergence that would define September started here. A double-digit week on the US East Coast against an 8% fall into the Mediterranean.
Index levels assessed 13 August 2026. This is the weekly briefing as it was published — it is not updated afterwards. For the current position on your lanes, use the rate explorer.
The week in numbers
| Lane | Level | Week |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | $4,339 | +1% |
| Shanghai – Rotterdam | $4,425 | −5% |
| Shanghai – Genoa | $5,080 | −8% |
| Shanghai – Los Angeles | $6,244 | +6% |
| Shanghai – New York | $8,706 | +10% |
What moved, and why
- The composite rose 1% to $4,339 per 40ft, held back by Asia–Europe even as the transpacific ran hard.
- Shanghai–New York gained 10% and Shanghai–Los Angeles 6%.
- Asia–Europe fell for another week, Shanghai–Genoa down 8% and Shanghai–Rotterdam down 5%.
- Carriers were restricting space aggressively: ten sailings cancelled in each of the previous two weeks, with seven more planned for the following week.
What it meant for a quote
If you quoted both major corridors off one composite this week you were wrong in both directions — by 10% on the US East Coast and 8% into the Mediterranean. This is the week the year's divergence became impossible to average away, and the point at which lane-level benchmarks stopped being optional.
Sources
- Drewry World Container Index, assessment for 13 August 2026, and Drewry Container Capacity Insight.
Figures are as published by the named third parties on the dates given. They are not SeaFreightPrices benchmarks; our own methodology is set out on the methodology page.