Note: 1994 = 100.

Continuous Commodity Index and Average Container Shipping Rates, 1994-2009

The container shipping rate is an un-weighted average of shipping rates per TEU along four major long distance shipping routes (Asia - United States and Asia - Europe). For more than 15 years container shipping rates tended to decline as economies of scale were applied in maritime shipping, while the Continuous Commodity Index surged. From a cargo value / transport cost per TEU proposition, the containerized shipping of commodities has become more advantageous, and this even after the sharp correction that took place in late 2008. This correction also had a deflationary impact on container shipping rate.