The Ningbo Containerised Freight Index (NCFI), compiled by the Ningbo Shipping Exchange and published weekly by the Baltic Exchange, reported mixed movements in spot container freight rates for the week ending 13 June 2025.
The NCFI tracks rates for standard container sizes (20ft, 40ft, and high-cube) from the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan to major global destinations.
Ningbo weekly scenario
This week, the route from Ningbo to Northern Europe experienced a significant increase, with the freight index rising to 1,307.92 USD per FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit), up by 16.4% from the previous week’s level of 1,123.64. This sharp uptick likely reflects strong demand and reduced capacity availability into ports such as Hamburg and Rotterdam, possibly influenced by seasonal cargo flows or operational delays.
In contrast, freight rates to the Mediterranean declined. The West Mediterranean route, which includes ports like Barcelona, Valencia, and Genoa, saw a 7.3% drop, falling to 1,890.72 from 2,038.84. Similarly, the East Mediterranean route, which covers Piraeus and Istanbul, decreased by 6.0%, reaching 1,488.85 from 1,584.01 the week prior. These declines could indicate easing pressure after a recent period of high demand or increased service availability on these lanes.
Meanwhile, the Middle East route posted a moderate gain, with rates climbing by 5.0% to 1,618.67, up from 1,541.62 the previous week. This rise may be attributed to stronger trade activity or vessel deployment adjustments impacting cargo flows into major ports such as Dammam and Dubai.
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Source: Baltic Exchange
