LONDON research house Drewry's Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), a weighted average of regional spot container freight rates, decreased eight per cent in the first two weeks of February to US$667 per FEU, reports St Petersburg PortNews.

Despite this decline, the IACI remains 33 per cent higher than in the same period last year, indicating the ongoing strengthening of intra-Asian trade. However, Drewry forecasts that freight rates will continue to drop throughout February.

The Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) reports actual spot container freight rates for major intra-Asia trade routes.

The index, which will be updated fortnightly, consists of 18 route-specific indices representing individual shipping routes and a composite index. All indices are reported in USD per FEU.