For the purposes of satisfying the demand of developing international container freight derivatives and improving the system of China's export containerized freight indices, Shanghai Export Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) was officially launched as of October 16, 2009.
　　I. General Conditions of SCFI
　　The SCFI reflects the spot rates of Shanghai export container transport market. It includes both freight rates (indices) of 13 individual shipping routes and a composite index.
　　i. Freight rates of individual shipping routes
　　The freight indices reflect the ocean freight and the associated seaborne surcharges of individual shipping routes on the spot market, where:
　　Shipping routes: major container trade routes export from Shanghai to the following regions:
Europe, Mediterranean Sea, US west coast, US east coast, Persian Gulf, Australia/New Zealand, West Africa, South Africa, South America, West Japan, East Japan, Southeast Asia, Korea.
　　Ports of destination: the base ports were defined in each individual trade route, e.g.
Europe—Hamburg/Rotterdam/Antwerp/Felixstowe/Le Havre;
Mediterranean Sea—Barcelona/Valencia/Genoa/Naples;
USWC—Los Angeles/Long Beach/Oakland;
USEC—New York/Savannah/Norfolk/ Charleston;
West Japan—Osaka/Kobe;
East Japan—Tokyo/Yokohama
　　Type of price: it refers to the average final prices (volume weighted average prices) of space book on spot market by common shippers, which are not influenced by peculiarity of shippers’ enterprises or container volume.
　　Surcharges:
The seaborne surcharges include:

　　Unit: USD/TEU (USD/FEU is for US West coast and East coast services)
Trade and transport term: export CIF, CY-CY
Container type/cargo description: General dry cargo container (General cargo is for US west coast and east coast services)
ii. Composite index
The basis composite index is 1,000 points and the base period is specified on October 16th 2009.
II. Freight Information Collection and Panelists
The freight information for SCFI compilation is reported by CCFI panelists, including liner companies and shipper/freight forwarders. All member panelists are world-renowned enterprises with outstanding performances and sound reputation in shipping circle. At present, 23 liner companies and 26 shippers/freight forwarders provide the freight information. Their name are as follows:
Panelists of liner companies (in the alphabetic order of English abbreviations): CMA-CGM, COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd., Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Heung-A, KMTC , Maersk, MSC, ONE , OOCL, PIL, RCL, Shanghai Hai Hua Shipping, Shanghai Jin Jiang Shipping, Sinotrans Container Lines, SITC Container Lines, SM Line(Shanghai)Co.,Ltd., Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp, EVERGREEN MARINE CORP. (TAIWAN) LTD., Wan Hai Lines Ltd., T.S. LINES LIMITED, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (China) Co., LTD.
Panelists of shippers/ freight forwarders (in the alphabetic order of English): Cargo Services (China) Limited , COSCO Logistics (Shanghai) , Fan Cheng International Transportation Service Co.,Ltd. , JHJ International Transportation Co., Ltd. , MagicFish (Shanghai) Logistics Information Technology Co.,Ltd. ,Orient International Logistics (Holding) Co., Ltd. , Predators (Shanghai) Information Technology Co.,Ltd. , Shandong Lcang International Logistics Inc Corp.Ltd , Shanghai Asian Development Int’l Trans Pu Dong Co., Ltd. , Shanghai Donghao Lansheng International Logistics Co.,Ltd. , Shanghai Huaxing International Container Freight Transportation Co., Ltd. , Shanghai Jinchang Logistics Co., Ltd. , Shanghai Orient Express International Logistics Co., Ltd. , Shanghai Richhood International Logistics Co., Ltd. , Shanghai ShippingRen Network Technology Co.,Ltd. , Shanghai Viewtrans Co., Ltd. , Shangtex Group International Logistics Co., Ltd. (formerly named Shanghai Shenda International Transportation Co., Ltd.), SIPG Logistics Co., Ltd. , Sinotrans Eastern Co., Ltd. , Sunshine-Quick Group , UBI Logistics (China) Ltd. , Shanghai Sijin International Transportation Co.,Ltd. , Shanghai Syntrans International Logistics Co.,Ltd , Shanghai BA-SHI YUEXIN logistics Development Co.,Ltd., YQN Logistics Co., Ltd. and Worldwide Logistics Co.,Ltd..
III. Index Compilation and Publication
i. Freight calculation of individual shipping routes
The freight rate of individual shipping route is the arithmetic mean of all freight rates of each route. The minimum number of reports per route per week is subject to the weighting on the specific route. At least five reports are required for the shipping route with less than 5% weighting; at least six reports are required for the route of 5%-10% weighting; at least seven reports are required for 10%-15% weighting; At least eight reports are required for the route with more than 15% weighting.

Where: i = route, j = sample company, n = number of sample companies on specific route
ii. Calculation of composition index
The composite index is the weighted average of all routes: the average spot freight rate of the specific route is divided by average price of its base period. The result multiplies its weighting and its base period index to obtain a value of each route. All the route values shall then add up to obtain the total value.

Where: i = route, m = number of the route, Wi = weighting of route i
iii. Index publication
The CCFI is publicized by SSE at 15:00 (Beijing Time) on each date of publication. Users may log on to the websites of SSE to obtain the updated freight index information.
The date of publication is generally on each Friday and will be adjusted in legal holidays. The specific dates will be made known to public by SSE. If necessary and reasonable, SSE may postpone or cancel the publication.
IV. Official Statement
SSE is a non-profit institution sponsored by the government, which provides premise, facilities and information to shipping related business. We adheres the principles of “Fairness, Openness and Impartiality” and maintains independent and authoritative status in shipping circle.
SSE will compile and publicize the freight indices in strict conformity with "The Articles of China Containerized Freight Index Compiling Panel" and "The Rules of CCFI Compilation".