On 29 September 2026, Container News reported that headline container benchmarks softened or mixed in the latest weekly readings, while trade-lane moves stayed sharply split. China's SCFI was virtually unchanged at 3,686.62 points versus 3,687.83 previously (about -0.03%). The broader CCFI rose 1.1% to 1,917.68 from 1,897.15. Ningbo's NCFI fell another 1.6% to 2,494.75 from 2,535.27. The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) global reading declined 1% to $3,380.40.
Lane data told a clearer story. The NYSHEX Freight Index (NYFI) showed Asia-US West Coast up 4.82% to 7,417.32 and Asia-US East Coast up 5.75% to 9,692.72. Asia-North Europe fell 4.13% to 3,597.33. Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) decreased 1% to $4,468 per 40ft. Shanghai-Los Angeles rose 2% to $7,838, Shanghai-New York held at $10,373, Shanghai-Rotterdam fell 4% to $3,485, and Shanghai-Genoa fell 5% to $3,835.
Drewry also noted Suez Canal transits rising from 41 in Week 37 to 48 in Week 38, adding effective Asia-Europe capacity. It expects Transpacific rates to ease in the next reading ahead of Golden Week even with blank sailings, and Asia-Europe to keep softening as Suez recovery outweighs cancellations. For importers, the practical split remains: US-bound space and price stay firm relative to Europe-bound lanes.