Average short-term contract rates for the India-US trades have shown some early signs of an uptrend, after major carriers began seeking general rate increases in the range of US$500 per container, from 29 March According to the analysis, rates for shipments from West India to the US East Coast are hovering at US$1,550 per 20-foot box, up from US$1,502, and US$1,700 per 40-foot box, versus US$1,970, and at US$1,500/20-foot container, versus US$1,373, and US$1,741/40-foot box, steady with the March level, for container loads moving to the US West Coast. Average contract rates for bookings from West India to Tianjin have dipped to US$80 per 20-foot container, from US$90, and US$160/40-foot box, from US$180, month on month. April prices for West India-Jebel Ali/Dubai shipments have fallen to US$75/20-foot container and US$200/40-foot box, from US$100 and US$250, respectively, at the end of March. read more…