Dashboard
Market and lead-time dashboard
The numbers we plan with for air and sea: weekly container indices, air rates, transit ranges, the order-to-dock timeline and the factory calendar. Every figure names its source and date.
$4,585Drewry WCI composite, per 40'+2 % w/w, 22 Oct 2026
$3,632Shanghai–Rotterdam, per 40'+3 % w/w, 22 Oct 2026
$4.14–4.85Air, China to N. Europe, per kg−7 % w/w, 14 Oct 2026
$45–150Sea LCL, China to N. Europe, per cbmbase freight, Oct 2026
Container spot rates, 2026
USD per 40' container; Drewry World Container Index composite and the Shanghai to Rotterdam lane.
Shanghai–RotterdamWCI composite
Data table
| Series | Date | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-01-08 | 2,840 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-03-26 | 2,552 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-06-04 | 3,579 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-06-25 | 4,392 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-09-10 | 3,997 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-09-17 | 3,485 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-10-08 | 3,337 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-10-15 | 3,522 |
| Shanghai–Rotterdam | 2026-10-22 | 3,632 |
| WCI composite | 2026-01-08 | 2,557 |
| WCI composite | 2026-06-04 | 3,433 |
| WCI composite | 2026-06-25 | 4,166 |
| WCI composite | 2026-09-17 | 4,500 |
| WCI composite | 2026-10-08 | 4,351 |
| WCI composite | 2026-10-15 | 4,485 |
| WCI composite | 2026-10-22 | 4,585 |
Source: Drewry World Container Index, weekly assessments 8 January to 22 October 2026.
Air freight, China to Northern Europe
Indicative general-cargo spot rate, USD per kg at 1,000 kg and above.
Data table
| Series | Date | Value |
|---|---|---|
| China–N. Europe air | 2026-03-15 | 4.80 |
| China–N. Europe air | 2026-04-25 | 6.20 |
| China–N. Europe air | 2026-08-05 | 3.90 |
| China–N. Europe air | 2026-10-14 | 4.50 |
Sources: forwarder market reports (March, April, August) and the Freightos index movement reported 14 October 2026.
Transit time by mode
Main leg in days, plus EU customs and road delivery to the door.
main legcustoms and road delivery
Data table
| Mode | Main leg, days | To door, days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air | 5–7 | +1–3 | airport to airport |
| Sea FCL | 25–35 | +2–4 | port to port |
| Sea LCL | 30–42 | +3–5 | CFS to CFS |
Transit ranges from carrier schedules and forwarder guides, October 2026; Taiwan and Japan sea lanes add about 4 days.
Cost of one sample shipment by mode
1,000 kg, 5 cbm of controllers, Shenzhen to Warsaw, door to door, before duty and VAT.
Data table
| Mode | USD |
|---|---|
| Air | 5,150 |
| Sea LCL | 1,250 |
Computed with the calculator model from the October 2026 rate indications.
From purchase order to your dock
Typical days per phase for a repeat order; production varies from 14 to 45 days by item.
Order and prepaymentProductionInspectionExport and pickupMain legEU customsRoad delivery
Data table
| Mode | Order and prepayment | Production | Inspection | Export and pickup | Main leg | EU customs | Road delivery | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | 3 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 39 |
| Sea LCL | 3 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 67 |
| Sea FCL | 3 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 64 |
Phase durations are ProfitLogiQ planning values for repeat orders; first orders add 1 to 2 weeks for sample approval.
FCL or LCL: where a full container starts to pay
All-in cost to the EU hub for one shipment, by volume. LCL at 190 USD per cbm all-in with a 350 USD minimum; a 20' container at about 3,300 USD and a 40' at about 4,700 USD including local charges.
Sea LCLFCL 20'FCL 40'
Data table
| cbm | LCL | FCL 20' | FCL 40' |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 950 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 10 | 1,900 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 15 | 2,850 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 17 | 3,230 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 20 | 3,800 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 25 | 4,750 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
| 30 | 5,700 | 3,300 | 4,700 |
Model inputs from the October 2026 rate indications on the Rates page; forwarder guides put the break-even at 15 to 18 cbm.
Factory calendar, November 2026 to October 2027
Closures and peak periods that move lead times. Hover a month for the detail.
closed or partly closedpeak season, book early
Nov2026
Dec2026
Jan2027
Feb2027
Mar2027
Apr2027
May2027
Jun2027
Jul2027
Aug2027
Sep2027
Oct2027
Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027; Golden Week is 1 to 7 October each year. Plan production to finish two weeks before a closure.
Indices are container-yard-to-container-yard benchmarks; your invoice adds origin and destination charges, surcharges and delivery. Use the calculator for a landed cost.