In December 2025, China's export container shipping market maintained a stable and positive trend. The monthly average of the China Export Container Freight Index released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange was 1126.09 points, up 2.4% from the previous month's average. The monthly average of the Shanghai Export Container Composite Index, which reflects the spot market, was 1528.33 points, up 6.4% from the previous month's average.
1. The growth momentum of port container throughput is good, and the rental rates in the ship charter market remain stable
â‘ In November 2025, China's container throughput maintained a good growth momentum compared with the same period of the previous year. According to statistics, national ports handled 30.52 million TEUs of containers in November, an increase of 8.7% compared with the same period in 2024. Among them, coastal ports handled 26.81 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 8.9%; inland river ports handled 3.71 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%.
â‘¡ The container ship charter market remains stable, with rental rates varying across different ship types. Among them, the rental rates for small vessels have declined slightly, while those for large vessels have increased marginally. According to Clarksons' statistics, in December, the rental rates for 1000TEU, 2750TEU, 4250TEU, 6500TEU, and 9000TEU ships changed by -1.8%, 0%, +0.8%, +0.6%, and 0% respectively compared to the previous month.
2. Freight rates for Europe and Mediterranean routes keep rising during the contract season
For the Europe-Mediterranean routes, transportation demand remains stable. The spot market booking prices are supported during the traditional contract season, maintaining an upward trend. In December, the average freight rate indices for China's exports to Europe and the Mediterranean routes were 1477.77 points and 1846.47 points respectively, up 4.6% and 12.9% from the previous month's averages. The average spot market freight rates for exports from Shanghai Port to basic ports in Europe and the Mediterranean were $1540/TEU and $2753/TEU respectively, increasing by 11.8% and 32.0% month-on-month.
3. The North American market first fell and then rose
For the North American routes, the transportation demand is basically stable, and the supply-demand relationship is relatively balanced. The market freight rates fell slightly in the first half of the month, but rebounded in the second half. In December, the average freight rate indices for China's exports to the US West and US East routes were 799.18 points and 871.83 points respectively, down 4.7% and 8.5% from the previous month's averages. The average spot market freight rates for exports from Shanghai Port to the basic ports in the US West and US East were 1,878 USD/FEU and 2,712 USD/FEU respectively, up 2.7% and 5.7% month-on-month.
4. The Freight rates for PERSIAN GULF/RED SEA SERVICE continue to rise
For the PERSIAN GULF/RED SEA SERVICE, transportation demand continues to maintain steady growth, with solid fundamentals of supply and demand, and the spot market booking prices keep rising. In December, the average freight rate index for exports from China to the Poland and Hungary route was 1296.44 points, an increase of 8.3% compared with the average of the previous month.
5. The Australia-New Zealand market has adjusted
For the Australia-New Zealand route, there is a lack of momentum for further growth in transportation demand, and the supply-demand fundamentals lack support, leading to an adjustment trend in market freight rates. In December, the average freight rate index for China's exports to the Australia-New Zealand route was 1160.21 points, a decrease of 5.3% compared to the average of the previous month.
6. Japan's freight rates fell slightly
For the Japan route, the overall transportation demand remains stable, while the market freight rates have declined slightly. In December, the average freight rate index for China's exports to Japan was 967.71 points, a decrease of 0.5% compared to the average of the previous month.
