Drewry's Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), a weighted average of spot container freight rates across 18 major trade routes within Asia, increased by 8% in the first half of June 2025, reaching $707 per 40-foot container. This rise reflects a notable shift in regional shipping costs and suggests mounting pressure across intra-Asian logistics.
Despite the recent increase, the index remains 27% lower than its level in June 2024, highlighting a broader trend of rate volatility over the past year. The IACI excludes origin and destination terminal handling charges and is quoted in U.S. dollars per 40-foot container.
According to Drewry Supply Chain Advisors, several key factors are contributing to the current uptrend in freight rates. These include growing port congestion across Asia, the impact of recently implemented U.S. tariffs, and shifting trade patterns that are beginning to reshape regional flows.
The Intra-Asia Container Index, which is updated fortnightly, captures actual market spot rates from routes connecting major ports such as Shanghai, Busan, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Laem Chabang, Kaohsiung, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Singapore, Manila, Tanjung Pelepas, Yokohama, and Jebel Ali.
As Drewry continues to monitor and report these movements, the index serves as a critical benchmark for shippers, freight forwarders, and analysts tracking the evolving dynamics of one of the world's busiest and most complex regional trade networks.
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