Shipping consultancy Drewry's composite World Container Index (WCI) has fallen 5.7% this week compared to the last seven days.
But it is still up 20.1% year-on-year.
The weekly drop was $103 to $1,690 per feu as rates from Shanghai to New York fell $249 to $2,974.
Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles dropped $151 to reach $1,930 per feu, with Shanghai-Rotterdam down $126 to $1,956.
But Drewry said it expects rates to recover next week.
The average rate so far this year is $1,741 per feu, $230 higher than the five-year average of $1,511.
