The cost of shipping #containers continues to surge, with the Drewry Composite Index rising 12% over the past week, extending its seven-week gain to nearly 80%. Freight rates on the key Shanghai–New York and Shanghai–Rotterdam routes have almost doubled during that period, driven by a "perfect storm" of overlapping geopolitical, regulatory, and seasonal supply chain pressures.
In essence, a surge that isn't driven by a boom in global consumer spending, but rather an artificial rush of buying for vessel space to outrun tariffs, regulatory deadlines, and extended transit times at a time of elevated fuel costs.
The index has risen 79% YTD and 21% over the past twelve months.
