CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2025 - Flipbook - Page 63
N EWS
Drewry WCI drops 4.39% as container
freight rates continue to decline
T
he Drewry World Container
Index (WCI) fell 4.39%
to US$2,264 per FEU on
March 20, marking its lowest level
since January 2024. The index
remains 78% below its September
2021 pandemic peak of US$10,377,
though still 59% higher than
the 2019 pre-pandemic average
of US$1,420. Freight rates saw
signi昀椀cant declines, with Shanghai to Los Angeles dropping 9%
(US$248) to US$2,658 per FEU,
and Shanghai to New York falling
7% (US$264) to $3,774 per FEU.
Other routes, including Shanghai
to Rotterdam and Rotterdam
to New York, saw 2% declines,
while Los Angeles to Shanghai
remained stable. With weak shipping demand and higher capacity
availability, Drewry anticipates
further slight declines in freight
rates in the coming weeks.
Despite the current downturn, the
YTD composite index stands at
US$3,127 per FEU, US$242 above
the 10-year average, in昀氀uenced
by the post-pandemic market
adjustments.
Global shipping lines post US$60 mn EBIT in
2024 despite slowdown: Sea Intelligence
M
ajor shipping lines
that have reported
their 2024 full-year
EBIT recorded a combined
pro昀椀t of US$27.3 billion, signi昀椀cantly lower than the $200
billion earned in 2021 and
2022 but still outpacing preCOVID years. Notably, 2024’s
EBIT surpasses the combined
pro昀椀ts of 2019, 2020, and 2023.
While key players like MSC, PIL,
and CMA CGM have not disclosed
their earnings, estimates based
on available data suggest that the
total industry EBIT could reach
approximately $60 billion for
2024. Despite a decline from
pandemic-driven highs, the
sector remains highly pro昀椀table, re昀氀ecting a more stable
yet resilient post-pandemic
shipping market. The
industry's overall 昀椀nancial
health, while lower than peak
years, continues to benefit
from operational e昀케ciencies and
strategic adjustments in response
to 昀氀uctuating global demand.
CMA CGM to invest US$20 billion to strengthen
US maritime and supply chain infrastructure
C
MA CGM Group has
announced a US$20 billion
investment to enhance
U.S. maritime sovereignty and
supply chain transformation over
the next four years. The initiative
includes expanding APL’s U.S.
flag capacity, upgrading port
infrastructure in major cities,
and developing state-of-theart logistics and warehousing.
The Group will also boost air
cargo capacity with 昀椀ve Boeing
777 freighters and establish a
Boston-based R&D hub focussed
on robotics and automation. With
operations in 40 states and 15,000
employees, CMA CGM aims to
advance US trade, security, and
innovation while reinforcing its
role as a key logistics partner.
Finnair and
DB Schenker join
forces to cut cargo
emissions
and DB Schenker
Fforinnair
have signed an agreement
DB Schenker to purchase
120 tonnes of Sustainable
Aviation Fuel (SAF), reducing
400 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
This collaboration aligns with
both companies' commitment
to decarbonising air freight by
increasing SAF usage. Finnair
emphasises operational efficiency, network optimisation,
and new aircraft technology in
its sustainability strategy. DB
Schenker, an early SAF adopter,
continues expanding lowcarbon air freight solutions.
This partnership strengthens
efforts to reduce aviation’s
carbon footprint, providing
verified emissions reduction
certificates and empowering
customers with sustainable
logistics alternatives for a
greener future.
Challenge Group
joins FIATA to
strengthen logistics
collaboration
hallenge Group has joined
Caiming
FIATA as an affiliate member,
to enhance industry
collaboration and tackle global
supply chain challenges. Chief
Commercial Officer Or Zak
emphasised the company’s
commitment to providing
integrated logistics solutions
and fostering synergies across
the supply chain. FIATA’s Director General Stephane Graber
welcomed Challenge Group,
highlighting its growth, expertise, and focus on sustainability,
security, and digitalisation. The
membership follows Challenge
Group’s participation in MACE
2024, reinforcing its role in
addressing regulatory shifts,
capacity constraints, and supply
chain disruptions within the
global airfreight sector.
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