SANTO DOMINGO - The global container price index registered a return to normality in the week of December 15-22, 2022, compared to the previous week ending December 14. Although prices are still much lower than last year, they are still higher than in 2019, before the pandemic.
Data from the latest Drewry composite index indicates that the price of a 40-foot container is now US$2,120, 80% below the peak of US$10,377 reached in September 2021.
“It is 21% lower than the 10-year average of US$2,693, indicating a return to more normal prices, but it is still 49% higher than the average rates of 2019 (before the pandemic), of US$1,420,” notes a publication by journalist Cándida Acosta of Listín Diario.
Overall, during the week of December 15-22, freight prices fell by 77% compared to the same week in 2021.
The price of a 40-foot container was US$2,119.96 on the date in question. Freight rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam fell 87% year-on-year, but remained unchanged from the previous week.
Freight rates between Rotterdam and Shanghai fell by 49% in the week of December 15-22 compared to the previous year, and by only 1% compared to the week of December 8-15 in 2022. Rates between these ports closed on December 22, 2022 at US$789 per 40-foot container.
The Shanghai to Genoa port recorded a trip of US$2,879, down 78% compared to the same period in 2021, but also 1% less than the previous week of the same month last year.
Other rates
From Shanghai to Los Angeles, the rates for the week of December 15-22, 2022 were 81% lower than those for the same date in 2021, but remained unchanged from the previous week.
At those ports, rates of US$1,169 per 40-foot container were verified. From Shanghai to New York, there was a 6% drop in the rate from December 15 to 22, 2022.
Fares were US$3,889. From New York to Rotterdam they fell 6% and closed at US$1,263, while from Rotterdam to New York they fell 11% to close at US$6,989. The fare declines were less pronounced that week, not exceeding 0%, -1%, and -2%.
Rates:
Freight rates on the Shanghai-New York route fell 2%, or US$63, to US$3,889 per 40-foot container. Spot rates on the Shanghai-Genoa and Los Angeles-Shanghai routes fell 1% each to US$2,879 and US$1,169 per 40-foot container, respectively.
Prices
on the Rotterdam-Shanghai and Rotterdam-New York routes fell 1% each to US$789 and US$6,989, respectively. However, on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route, prices rose 2%, or $32, to US$1,706 per unit. On the New York-Rotterdam and Shanghai-Los Angeles routes, prices hovered around the previous week's level.
