Shanghai freight index rises for a fourth week as US rates ease

October 31, 2026. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) closed the week at 3,687.35 points on Friday, October 30, up 6.01 points from the previous week, according to Shanghai Shipping Exchange data reported by Economic Daily News and CTWANT. It is the fourth weekly gain in a row, but a small one: less than 1 %.

The direction depends on where your cargo goes. Routes to North America got slightly cheaper, while Europe and the Mediterranean went up.

Spot rates from Shanghai this week

• US West Coast: USD 7,479 per 40-foot container, down USD 42.
• US East Coast: USD 10,199 per 40-foot container, down USD 189 (−1.8 %).
• Europe: USD 2,370 per 20-foot container, up USD 19.
• Mediterranean: USD 3,350 per 20-foot container, up USD 95 (+2.9 %).

Jiemian, citing the exchange, described the market as basically stable, with the composite index up 0.2 %.

What could keep North American rates high in November

Economic Daily News expects rates to North America to stay firm in early November: ships still wait 3 to 6 days to cross the Panama Canal, several Asian ports are congested and floods have slowed inland transport. Demand to Europe remains weak, and the gradual return of ships to the Red Sea and Suez route should shorten voyages.

In California, employers at Los Angeles and Long Beach and the watchmen's union ILWU Local 26 agreed to keep negotiating. According to gCaptain, the new deadline is 5 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday, November 4.

Our take for importers

For cargo bound to Latin America, the Panama factor matters mainly for Gulf and Atlantic ports. Shipments entering Mexico through Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas do not cross the canal; Manzanillo handled 3,154,778 TEU from January to September, 9.5 % more than a year earlier, according to DataPortuaria.

• Ask for quotes to more than one destination port and compare the total cost to your warehouse.
• If your cargo crosses Panama, build the waiting days into your delivery date.
• Fix the Incoterm before you close the price: with DDP shipping the seller absorbs freight changes.

Our team in Dongguan books sea freight from China and calculates the landed cost of each order before you pay.

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