The cost of shipping containers with cargo from China to Russia and Europe has differed several times since October. Thus, by mid-December, the container index of the Russian Center for Price Research (CCI) was $6.17 thousand, and shipping a container from the East to Rotterdam cost $1.96 thousand, according to the international Drewry index.

This is reported by The Moscow Times, citing analysts from the Center for Economic Forecasting (CEP) of Gazprombank. 

“This is a payment for sanctions from two sides: for the creation of special carriers working with Russia, for the risks of these companies, for special insurance rates, as well as for the increasing regulation from the Russian side,” said an employee of a logistics company.

The share of logistics in the final price of a product ranges from 2% to 16% . The heavier the product, the higher the share, reaching a maximum for furniture and industrial equipment – for example, machine tools.

The CCI index reflects the weighted average spot rates for the transportation of a 40-foot container by sea and rail from Shanghai (China) to the recipient’s warehouse in Moscow (Russia) along four routes: via the ports of Vladivostok, St. Petersburg and Novorossiysk, as well as for direct delivery from China to Moscow by rail.

According to Gazprombank’s calculations, if we imagine that the loading of a 40-foot container is about 20 tons, then transporting 1 kg of imported cargo will cost 25 rubles.

The main growth occurred in the fall: in early October the index was about $5 thousand, and since early December the index has increased by 6%. The growth of the index was facilitated by an increase in prices for sea freight from Shanghai to the ports of the North-West of the Russian Federation and a 10% increase in tariffs of the Russian railway operator RZD from December 1.

Before that, the index had been falling since the end of last year, and is now 31% lower than in December 2024. Container shipping prices in Russia collapsed last winter due to reduced import volumes and have not yet recovered .

This year, the index has been under pressure due to falling imports, overcapacity, and fierce price competition. At its lowest point in the summer and fall, the index fell to $5,000-5.2 thousand.

December’s growth is technical and seasonal, and does not reflect a trend reversal, CCI analysts believe, it is a “short-term correction after a deep slump.” Demand for delivery has traditionally picked up at the end of the year, and supply is in a slight deficit, as carriers have reduced capacity in response to falling imports.

The cost of transportation in 2026 will depend on whether imports resume.

Global indices reflecting the cost of shipping containers are also rising in line with seasonal increases in freight rates , and even faster than the Russian index.

The Drewry World Index has risen by 13% since the beginning of December, and is now higher than the one that Gazprombank’s CEP analysts relied on – $2.18 thousand for a 40-foot container. But still, the difference with the cost of transportation to Russia is huge .

This has always been the case, but by 2022 the difference was in the tens of percent, and after the start of the full-scale war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine and the introduction of sanctions, prices began to differ significantly.

For example, on December 8, the international shipowners’ insurance association American Club informed clients about possible delays and costs when calling at Russian ports due to a regulation that came into effect on November 25, according to which any foreign ship must obtain permission from the Russian FSB to enter a port. To obtain it, it is necessary to inform the special service of the last 10 ports of call, after which a check will begin, which will last two days.

As reported, in October, two large shipping lines ceased operations in Russia – the UAE-registered company CStar Line and the Chinese STF Shipping, which in 2023-2024 alternately ranked among the leaders in sea container transportation to Russian ports.

Author:  Halyna Yalivets Джерело: https://censor.net/n3591880

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