Container Freight Index Drops 4%: November 2025 Market Report, Global Freight Rates Outlook & 2026 Forecast

 

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In November 2025, the Container Freight Index fell by 4% because global freight rates fell. Shipping costs from North America fell by over 10%, while costs on the Mediterranean route climbed. A full analysis, data tables, and a detailed shipping rate prediction for 2026.

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An overview of the Container Freight Index for November 2025

In November 2025, the global container shipping industry became unstable again because of lower demand, imbalances on certain routes, and more ships being able to carry more cargo.The most recent update shows that the Container Freight Index dropped 4%. This change is in line with changes in prices across the maritime shipping sector and major ocean freight rates.

North America had the biggest weekly decline, with freight prices on the US West Coast and East Coast falling substantially. At the same time, the Mediterranean maritime market stayed surprisingly strong.

This research goes into great detail about container shipping rates, worldwide freight rate trends, and a shipping price forecast for 2026 based on capacity, demand, and global trade patterns.

 

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Changes in freight rates (all information comes from the news you sent us)

Table of Freight Rate Comparisons

These changes fit with bigger trends in the worldwide container trade, especially the persistent tension between supply expansion and uneven demand in different parts of the world.

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What the Container Freight Index Looks At

The Container Freight Index keeps track of changes in spot market rates on important trade lanes across the world every week.
This makes it one of the best signs for:

• freight rates around the world
• Rates for ocean containers
• trends in shipping costs
• the state of the global supply chain

Carriers, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and analysts all use the index to keep an eye on the shipping market and plan their bookings.

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Shipping costs to North America are going down by around 10% per week

 

Freight rates on the US West Coast drop to $1,645/FEU

 

A decline of almost 10% in one week shows how much pressure there is in the North America shipping rates market.
Some of the most important factors are:

• Low demand for US imports
• A lot of stock in stores
• Consumer expenditure is going down
• Too many ships with too much space
• Lessening port congestion (lower readings on the port congestion index)

These things immediately affect the price of ocean freight by making more space accessible in the market.

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Freight rates on the US East Coast drop to $2,384/FEU

Even while it is still more expensive than West Coast services, the East Coast route also dropped dramatically because of:

• More efficient use of berths
• Carriers cutting down on empty sailings
• Moving cargo to less expensive channels on the West Coast
• Shipping services around the world that are more competitive

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Why US Demand Is Important for Global Freight Rates

A lot of the world’s ocean freight demand comes from the United States.
At the end of 2025:

• The correction of retail inventory slowed down.
• Imports of consumer goods went down.
• The prices of contract freight went down.
• Rates in the spot market became unstable.

This is why maritime freight prices in North America had such a big effect on the worldwide index.

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The Mediterranean Route is the only one that is growing (+1.3%).

Even if the world economy was going down, the Mediterranean shipping sector was able to rise because of:

• Steady demand from consumers in Southern Europe
• Imports of healthy home items and food
• Better management of vessel capacity
• Less exposure to slowdowns in the industrial sector that are hitting Northern Europe

This performance makes the Mediterranean one of the best places for shipping prices right now.

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Shipping costs to Europe go down by 3.5%

Europe still has to deal with:

• Slowdown in industrial production
• Lower PMIs for manufacturing
• Less volume of imports
• Too much space in the vessel
• Less visibility when booking

These problems are bad for both spot market rates and contract freight rates.

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South America had the biggest drop in freight rates: -18%.

Based only on the information you provide, South America had the biggest drop of all the main trade channels.

Some reasons are:

• Highly volatile cargo demand
• Lower seasonal imports
• Excess capacity allocated by carriers
• Lack of strong recovery in local consumption

As a result, South America is a key area for analyzing the freight business and keeping an eye on risks.

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The route from Australia to New Zealand is down 11.8%.

There was a big drop in the Oceania market because of:

• Low demand during the season
• Fewer imports for stores
• Carriers adding too much space
• There is still competition amongst mainline services.

Oceania is still one of the most vulnerable markets for global ocean container pricing.

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Why Carriers Want to Raise Rates in December 2025

Carriers are getting ready to raise their general rates (GRIs) in early December to keep prices stable and stop them from going down even more.

Measures to Control Capacity

These acts often cause shipping cost index measures to go up for a brief time.

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Balance of Global Supply and Demand: Q4 2025

Vessel oversupply is the main structural problem in the global shipping landscape.

• New mega-ships are still coming into service.
• Demand growth is still not steady.
• Markets in Asia and the Middle East do better than those in Europe and North America.
• Carriers have a hard time matching supply to demand.

This imbalance affects predictions for shipping rates in 2026.

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Effect on Businesses All Along the Supply Chain

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How to Read the Container Freight Index Like a Pro

Some important things to know are:

Indicators for the Short Term

• Sailings with no cargo
• Use of vessels
• Changes in spot rates

Indicators for the Long Term

• Demand for commerce around the world
• Production in factories
• Spending by consumers
• Pipeline for delivering vessels

Professionals also look at several indices, such as SCFI, CCFI, and FBX, to get a more accurate picture.

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Rate Prediction (December 2025 to February 2026)

This prediction is in line with existing predictions for the global shipping outlook and freight rate forecast.

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How to Deal with Rate Volatility

For Exporters

• Book early to prevent GRI spikes.
• Change up your routes to limit your exposure.
• Check the trends in the container freight index every week.

For Forwarders

• Use a mix of strategies, such as spot and contract.
• Give customers accurate information about global logistics.

For Carriers

• Targeted blank sailings
• Change the weekly capacity
• Put profitable lanes first

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Things People Get Wrong About Freight Indexes

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Supporting Indicators Worth Tracking

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often is the Container Freight Index updated?
   Weekly.

2. Why did South America freight rates drop 18%?
   High volatility + excess capacity.

3. Are Mediterranean rates likely to stay strong?
   Yes, due to better demand resilience.

4. Will December GRIs work?
   Only if blank sailings sufficiently tighten capacity.

5. Why are global freight rates falling?
   Weak demand + oversupply of vessels.

6. What drives ocean freight pricing the most?
   Demand, capacity, fuel costs, and route balance.

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What November 2025 Means for 2026: The End

The Container Freight Index’s 4% drop shows that there is too much supply and recovery is inconsistent across regions.

North America and Europe are still under a lot of pressure, but the Mediterranean is holding up better.

As 2026 starts, you can expect:

• constant changes in rates

• more GRIs more often

• management of capacity in an aggressive way

• demand-driven differentiation across trade routes