THE World Container Index assessed by London's Drewry Maritime Research, a composite of container freight rates on eight major routes to and from the US, Europe and Asia, was down 1.2 per cent to US$1,207.46 per FEU as of October 26.

The composite index was down 1.2 per cent this week, and down by 11 per cent from the same period of 2016.

The average composite index of the WCI year-to-date was $1,501 per FEU, which is $114 lower than the five-year average of $1,615 per FEU - and 11 per cent lower than a year ago.

The index also lost another $15 per FEU last week to reach $1,207. The WCI rate between Shanghai and Rotterdam stood at $1,252 per FEU, with a change of just $2.

The rates on Shanghai-New York fell by $41 to reach $1,789 per FEU, while Shanghai to Los Angeles rates fell by $27 to reach $1,321 per FEU.