Container Freight Index Flat at 3,662 Points on September 17, Up 9.15 Percent Month-Over-Month and 162 Percent Year-Over-Year as Transpacific Rates Hold Near Peak Levels

The Containerized Freight Index tracked by Trading Economics traded flat at 3,662.18 points on September 17, 2026. Over the past month, the index rose 9.15 percent, and is up 161.94 percent compared to the same time last year. Drewry's World Container Index remained stable at $4,476 per 40-foot container for the second consecutive week as of September 10, according to Drewry. Shanghai to Los Angeles rates climbed to $7,185 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to New York rates reached $9,587, according to current Drewry benchmarks. Shanghai to Rotterdam rates fell 5 percent to $4,092 per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to Genoa dropped 10 percent to $4,368 in the week ending September 3. Carriers have pulled approximately 20 percent of capacity through blank sailings to support rate levels. The September 1 General Rate Increase was successfully implemented across both US coasts, with another round of GRIs anticipated for September 15. Container rates remain elevated despite softer demand in some lanes, reflecting carriers' disciplined capacity management and ongoing operational disruptions. Transpacific rates to the US are holding near peak levels as retailers prepare inventory for the final months of the year, with Halloween, Black Friday, and Christmas merchandise all contributing to September shipping demand. Three typhoons within a five-week period in August created significant congestion and capacity loss, forcing carriers to maintain omitted calls and port skipping to recover schedules. US East Coast rates remain firmer than West Coast rates due to reduced capacity and ongoing Panama Canal draft and weight restrictions. Europe-bound rates have softened enough to put pressure on pricing, though congestion and weather disruption in Asia continue to affect schedule reliability. The year-over-year 162 percent increase in the Containerized Freight Index reflects the cumulative impact of geopolitical disruptions, capacity discipline, and infrastructure constrain