Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) declined for the tenth consecutive week, continuing to stabilize after a volatile period. The instability began after US tariffs were announced in April, which caused rates to surge from May through early June. This was followed by a sharp decline until mid-July, after which the downward trend slowed.
Looking ahead, Drewry's Container Forecaster projects that the supply-demand balance will weaken again in the second half of 2025, which will lead to further spot rate contraction. The extent and timing of rate changes will depend on future US tariff measures and on capacity adjustments linked to possible penalties on Chinese ships, both of which remain uncertain.