JOC Staff | Dec 06, 2012 4:04PM EST
Rotterdam to Shanghai rates, a bellwether for the backhaul Europe to Asia market, dropped 2.8 percent last week to $952 per 40-foot container, according to the latest numbers from the World Container Index. Backhaul westbound trans-Pacific rates based on the Los Angeles to Shanghai lane were flat this week at $841 per 40-foot container, according to the WCI.
The WCI Composite index incorporating both backhaul and headhaul lanes was down 3.9 percent to $1,706 per 40-foot container, reflecting greater weakness in headhaul lanes.
Reflecting rate increases successfully implemented by carriers earlier in 2012, the WCI Composite index is up 40.42 percent from a year earlier. The Rotterdam to Shanghai rate is up 47.9 percent versus a year ago, while the Los Angeles to Shanghai rates are up 12.9 percent versus a year ago, the WCI reported.