Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) rose 1% to $4,339 per 40 ft container on 13 August 2026. The composite number hid a clear split: Transpacific spot rates increased while the two published Shanghai-to-Europe routes declined.
For equipment buyers, the direction matters. The quoted WCI values themselves are not telehandler shipping prices.
## What changed on 13 August
| Published WCI route | Weekly move | Rate per 40 ft standard container |
|—|—:|—:|
| Shanghai to New York | +10% | $8,706 |
| Shanghai to Los Angeles | +6% | $6,244 |
| Shanghai to Rotterdam | -5% | $4,425 |
| Shanghai to Genoa | -8% | $5,080 |
Drewry attributed the composite increase to the Transpacific and said carriers were managing capacity while announcing surcharges. That makes the 13 August assessment useful for checking whether an ocean-freight line in a supplier quote still reflects the market direction on the relevant trade lane.
## Why WCI is not a telehandler freight quote
Drewry’s published methodology is explicit: WCI collects rates for dry cargo in standard containers. It excludes open-top containers, flat racks and other specialised equipment.
A telehandler may ship in a standard or high-cube container after partial disassembly, on a flat rack or open top as out-of-gauge cargo, by roll-on/roll-off service, or as breakbulk. The correct method depends on the machine’s packed dimensions, weight, dismantling plan, lifting points and destination restrictions.
That means a 10% WCI increase cannot be converted directly into a $790 increase for one telehandler. A flat-rack or open-top quotation can include special-equipment availability, out-of-gauge measurements, blocked-slot charges, lashing, terminal handling and route-specific surcharges that are outside the WCI assessment.
Use WCI to challenge the timing and direction of a freight allowance, then request an equipment-specific carrier or forwarder quotation before changing landed cost.
## What buyers should request
For each machine, send the forwarder a packing drawing with the transport configuration, gross weight and length, width and height. Ask for separate comparisons where practical:
– containerised after approved disassembly;
– 40 ft flat rack or open top, with all out-of-gauge charges shown;
– roll-on/roll-off or breakbulk where the route supports it;
– origin and destination terminal charges;
– quote validity and the surcharge adjustment mechanism.
US-bound buyers should pay particular attention to short quote-validity windows while Transpacific indices are rising. Northern European and Mediterranean buyers can use the falling Shanghai-Rotterdam and Shanghai-Genoa readings to ask for a refreshed freight line, but the final special-equipment quote may not fall by the same percentage.
## Rail is a separate calculation
EY’s 2024 review of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route cited a World Bank estimate of $2,500 to $3,250 for a 40 ft container between China and Europe. It also described intermodal transfers, infrastructure constraints and longer transit than the northern rail route. Those figures are historical corridor context, not a current 2026 out-of-gauge telehandler tariff.
For Central Asian or Eastern European delivery, request a current rail quote against the same packing drawing. Confirm whether the machine fits a standard container or needs a well wagon or another special loading plan. Compare the complete door-to-door route, border handling and schedule risk—not a standard-container headline against a flat-rack ocean movement.
The practical conclusion is simple: the 13 August WCI is a strong negotiation signal, but the landed-cost model must use a written quote for the actual machine and transport mode.
## Sources
– [Drewry World Container Index, 13 August 2026](https://www.drewry.co.uk/supply-chain-advisors/world-container-index-assessed-by-drewry)
– [Drewry WCI methodology](https://www.drewry.co.uk/logistics-executive-briefing/logistics-executive-briefing-articles/world-container-index-methodology)
– [Daily Cargo News, WCI assessment for 13 August 2026](https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/world-container-index-13-august-2026)
– [EY Kazakhstan, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route](https://www.ey.com/en_kz/insights/strategy-transactions/trans-caspian-international-transport-route)