Record container-shipping costs
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The cost of sending a shipping container from China to Europe has surged 637% in a year, while the cost to the U.S. has more than tripled, according to the Drewry World Container Index
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Shipping container spot rates (US$, 40-foot containers) 

Shanghai to Rotterdam 

Shanghai to Los Angeles
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Mar 2020: Lockdowns to counter coronavirus pandemic disrupt factory production in Asia
and global shipping

Oct-Nov: Container demand soars ahead of approaching holiday season

Aug 2020: 3,392

Aug 2021: China closes Ningbo-Zhoushan – 12 world’s third-busiest container port – due to Covid infection

May 2021: Yantian terminal in Shenzhen closed after port workers test positive for Covid-19

15K
12
9
6
3
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A
2020  2021

2,300 1,871 8,800 4,200 11,362 13,787
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Sources: Bloomberg, Drewry World Container Index Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS