News / Strong gains on the transpacific as US imports swell and GRIs begin to bite

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Container spot freight rates on the key transpacific eastbound trade have started 2025 with strong gains, following the partial implementation of 1 January general rate increases (GRIs) and ongoing healthy demand.

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) showed a 7% week-on-week gain on its Shanghai-Los Angeles leg, to finish the week at $4,829 per 40ft, a level that is 77% above the same point of 2024.

Meanwhile, the WCI’s Shanghai-New York leg grew 6% week on week, to $6,445 per 40ft, 67% up on the same point last year, reflecting a month of strong pricing ex-Asia to both the west and east coasts of the US.

“Transpacific spot rates have seen sharp increases of 38% to the US west coast and 23% to the east coast in the past four weeks,” Alphaliner noted in this week’s commentary.

“These rate gains could also be related to the impending labour strikes on the US east and Gulf coasts and to the fear of increased US import dues under the new Trump administration,” it added.

There is also the strong possibility that next week will see further gains, as a series of carrier GRIs – ranging from $3,000 to $1,000 per 40ft, depending on the shipping line – only came into force on 1 January and are likely to further influence rates over the forthcoming week.

And globally, carriers have begun the year in a considerably stronger pricing position. Today’s composite rate at the WCI was some 46% higher than the first week of 2024, while the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) for the last week of 2024 was some 40% above the last week in 2023.

Much of the most recent growth, over the past few weeks, has been generated on the trades into the US, while spot rates on the Asia-Europe trades have largely remained static.

Today’s reading of the WCI’s Shanghai-Rotterdam leg saw spot rates decline 1% week on week, to end at $4,774 per 40ft, while the Shanghai-Genoa leg was unchanged at $5,420 per 40ft. Spot rates on the trades are 33% and 30% up year on year, respectively.

The WCI’s headhaul transatlantic Rotterdam-New York leg was also unchanged week on week, at $2,720 per 40ft, but it is 81% up year on year.

However, the potential return of industrial action at ports on the US east and Gulf coasts, as well as the timing of this year’s Chinese New Year (26 January) could see overall costs for US transatlantic importers escalate rapidly this month.

CMA CGM has announced a $2,000 per 40ft peak season surcharge (PSS) on shipments into the east and Gulf coasts from Mediterranean loading ports for 18 January. The French carrier will also implement a $1,500 per 40ft PSS on shipments from the Middle East/Indian subcontinent on 15 January.

Then, 18 January will see MSC introduce a $2,000 per 40ft emergency operations surcharge on transatlantic shipments into the US east coast, which it said was due to “foreseen operational disruption” during the first months of this year, as it reorganises its network on the trade once its split from 2M partner Maersk is under way.