The Freightos Baltic Daily Index measures the daily price movements of 40-foot containers in 12 major maritime lanes. It is expressed as an average price per 40-foot container. This index is the world’s only ocean container pricing index that is reported daily.
In addition to average daily prices across 12 major maritime lanes, the difference between FBXD.CNAW and FBXD.CNAE is offered as FBXD.PANA. This is the price differential between shipping a 40-foot container from China to the North American West Coast and the North American East Coast. i.e. FBXD .CNAW = $1200 and FBXD.CNAE = $2200. FBXD.PANA = $1000.
Anyone that deals with freight coming in from overseas, or wants to see how demand overseas will predict volumes at major US ports: Freight Forwarders, Carriers, Shippers, Brokers, Drayage providers.
The FBX daily indices are very good indicators of freight volumes moving in the selected maritime lanes and the subsequent port cities. A lot of freight originates overseas and then disseminates into freight networks across the US. Seeing a major price increase from China to the West Coast of North America, for instance, is a good indicator that Los Angeles freight volumes will increase (with a few week lag) and likely means that demand will increase throughout the entire market.
The cost difference between China to West Coast price and China to East Coast price tells you the value of shipping on a container versus shipping on land. If there is low capacity via rail or truck on land shippers now have the option to ship through the Panama Canal to the East coast.
