On 28 September 2026, Hellenic Shipping News carried Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) update for the 24 September assessment: the composite rose 6% week on week to $1,491 per 40ft container, marking a fifth consecutive all-time high after the prior week’s $1,402 reading.
China-origin spots led the move. Shanghai–Laem Chabang increased 22% to $1,609 per 40ft; Shanghai–Jakarta rose 12% to $2,300 per 40ft, amid short-term disruption after a 21 September fire at NPCT1 (Tanjung Priok) that burned 51 ISO tanks and one dangerous-goods box. Shanghai–Jebel Ali climbed 2% to $8,712 per 40ft for a third straight week as Middle East tension and higher bunkers added cost. Return legs stayed far cheaper (e.g. Laem Chabang–Shanghai $205/40ft, +6%).
Drewry links the squeeze to pre-Golden Week demand, typhoon-related network disruption, and constrained effective capacity. Week-38 average vessel waits reached 83 hours in Shanghai and 38 hours in Ningbo, up eight hours from Week 37. Separately, X-Press Feeders, PIL and Namsung plan a late-October NCX loop (Xingang–Qingdao–Xiamen–Singapore–Port Klang–Penang–Nansha) with four 2,500–3,600 TEU ships. Drewry expects Intra-Asia rates to stabilise in coming weeks rather than keep setting weekly records.