Wittbecker: Challenges ahead for container freight in 2025

This year was a challenging one for anyone managing container freight exposures for either inbound or outbound cargo. Volatility with a capital “V” has been the rule.

In October 2023, average global 40-foot container rates plunged to a low of $1,342 per box. From that low point, rates steadily climbed, reaching a record high of $5,900 per container in July 2024, according to Statista Research Department data as of Dec 4. The second half of 2024 has witnessed a sharp downward correction, with prices in early December hovering around $3,200 per 40-foot box.