The rapid reduction of tariffs continues in the global container transportation market, which has already become a steady trend. According to the latest data from the Drewry Supply Chain Advisors consulting company, their Drewry World Container Index (WCI) dropped another 5% in the first week of October 2025, dropping to $1,669 per 40-foot container. This is the lowest level since the beginning of 2024, and this is the sixteenth week in a row when a drop has been recorded.
The reduction in rates affected almost all major routes. For example, transportation between Shanghai and Los Angeles dropped to $2,196, a decrease of 5%. In the Shanghai–New York area, the rate dropped by 2% to $3,200. European routes have also experienced a decline: shipping from Shanghai to Rotterdam now costs $1,613 (-7%), and to Genoa — $ 1,804 (-9%).
Experts attribute this drop to two main factors. The first is the seasonal slowdown in demand associated with the beginning of the "Golden Week" in China, when economic activity is traditionally declining. The second is the reaction of the carriers themselves, who are increasing the frequency of flights, but at the same time reducing the capacity of ships, trying to stabilize the market against the background of declining demand.
Analysts expect that rates on East–West routes will continue to drop smoothly in the coming weeks. Such a strategy can allow the market to "gently land" without sharp failures and panic on the part of industry players.
Special attention should be paid to the fact that the current decline occurs after several years of fluctuations and abnormally high values caused by the pandemic, logistical disruptions and subsequent geopolitical crises. In fact, the market is going through a process of normalization and the search for a new equilibrium level.
For shippers, the current tariff drop is a chance to optimize logistics and reduce costs, especially in an unstable macroeconomic situation. However, this is a challenge for carriers: they have to balance between maintaining profitability and retaining customers.
Given the global slowdown in trade and uncertainty in the global economy, operators are focused on flexible route policies, load optimization, and the transition to more predictable, sustainable service models.
Thus, the current drop in rates is not just a temporary phenomenon, but part of a larger restructuring of the logistics infrastructure of the world.
