Drewry suggests new normal for higher global container rates

Containers stacked at the Port of Houston. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) While ocean container rates have significantly retreated from pandemic highs, they still exceed pre-pandemic levels, an industry analyst finds, indicating what is likely a "new normal" in container shipping costs that could have a cascading effect on trucking, intermodal and related logistics services throughout the global supply chain. The latest Drewry World Container Index shows a 7% decrease in the composite index, which now stands at $2,368 per 40-foot container. This marks the lowest point since January 2024 and represents a dramatic 77% decline from the pandemic-era peak of $10,377…