Intra-Asia Container Rates Hit Six-Month High as Capacity Tightens

Intra-Asia container shipping rates have reached a six-month high, averaging $716 per 40ft container in the final two weeks of 2025, according to Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index. The rate surge has been driven by mounting shipment volumes and increasingly tight capacity across regional trade lanes. The Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai route recorded the most dramatic increase, with rates jumping 63% from the previous fortnight to reach $67 per 40ft container.

The Jakarta-Shanghai trade lane also saw significant gains, with rates climbing 21% to $51 per 40ft container during the same period. Carriers are responding to the market opportunity by introducing new services to capitalize on the strengthening demand fundamentals. Drewry forecasts that freight rates will continue their upward trajectory due to persistent capacity constraints in the region.

The rate improvements reflect the broader supply-demand imbalance that has characterized intra-Asia shipping markets as trade volumes recover. Industry analysts expect the tight capacity situation to persist in the near term, providing continued support for rate levels. The intra-Asia market represents one of the world’s largest container shipping regions, connecting major manufacturing and consumption centers across Southeast Asia, East Asia, and beyond.