The Drewry benchmark rate for an FEU from Hong Kong to Los Angeles fell to US$2,519, a decline of $181 from the $2,700 per FEU where it had been for three weeks.

 "The decline in Drewry's Hong Kong-Los Angeles Container Rate Benchmark this week is probably due to the additional capacity deployed by several carriers in the past three months and to a reduction in carrier fuel surcharges," said Philip Damas, director of Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.

 Despite the drop, Mr Damas said the spot rate was still high, "higher than most annual contract port-to-port rates". The Drewry rate includes surcharges, but not port of origin terminal handling charges.

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