8 indices that help you manage freight rate volatility

The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) tracks spot freight rates on the export container transport market from Shanghai, considering 15 individual routes. Unit: USD / TEU

The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) measures spot freight rates based on a composite of container freight rates on 8 major routes to/from the US, Europe, and Asia. Unit: USD / FEU

The TAC Index tracks airport-to-airport general cargo pricing across the major air cargo trade routes (origin-destination pairs) based on transactional data from global air forwarders. Unit: USD / kg

IATA CargoIs provides a picture of market price across more than 80.000 city-to-city trade lanes based on data from over 21 million airwaybills settled annually through IATA’s Cargo Accounts Settlement System (CASS). Unit: USD / kg

The Eurasian Rail Alliance Index (ERAI) tracks current rail transit rates and average rail transit times in the Eurasian rail corridor between China and the EU. Unit: USD / FEU

The SCI Rail Index measures the current business situation and expectations for the coming six months in the global rail sector based on 100 reports from representative companies. Unit: custom scale index

The TIMOCOM transport barometer displays the current freight and vehicle space supply and demand trends within the European road transport market. Unit: freight ratio (in %)

The DLSV Kostenindex displays cost developments of domestic system traffic of general cargo in Germany. The index is a composite of all handling costs (personnel, fuel, toll, and material costs) of a general cargo shipment. Unit: change in costs over time (in %)

Practitioners can use the indices examined in this article in three fields of action:

• First, practitioners can include indices in price planning by considering given and expected market conditions. In this vein, market indices supplement company-specific factors such as cost structures or willingness to pay and serve as a basis to negotiate prices in line with market developments.
• Second, practitioners should use indices to control prices by continuously monitoring market conditions. Practitioners should develop a dashboard with different indices to turn data into insights. As a result, practitioners can compare actual and projected rates on a regular basis.
• Third, practitioners can use indices to steer prices if actual and projected rates drift apart. For example, companies may proactively adjust contracts in the event of target deviation beyond specified thresholds.

Based on the three fields of action presented, we recommend practitioners to not only consider the indices presented in this article but carefully examine over 60 indices we have identified within our study. Considering this data will help increase market transparency and better manage volatile freight rates in logistics markets.

Fluctuating freight prices are the nightmare of every shipper and logistics service provider. The development of freight prices has always been subject to significant fluctuations due to seasonal and regional trends. However, forecasting, and adequate handling have become increasingly complex in recent years. Moreover, in light of COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine , there have been extreme increases in freight prices – regardless of the mode of transport – which have further exacerbated the price situation. So, where to start?

A current study by the Institute of Supply Chain Management at the University of St.Gallen has addressed this question. The study results are based on a broad-based study consortium consisting of logistics service providers, shippers, and IT partners. Also, 45 experts were interviewed as part of an extensive interview series on challenges and management approaches to dealing with volatile freight rates. Instead of a single actor perspective, the study systematically examines best practices from the perspective of shippers and logistics service providers.

In addition, the study includes additional scenarios, case studies of shippers and logistics service providers, and a listing of 60 relevant indices and 142 digital business models in logistics.