The Xeneta indices

An index-linked contract is only as good as the index behind it. This page explains the Xeneta indices, where the rates come from, and why both sides of a contract can trust them.

What makes an index trustworthy

When you choose an index to base a contract on, it needs to be:

• Relevant. It reflects the corridors and container types you actually ship.
• Transparent. All parties can independently verify the values and the methodology.
• Timely. It updates frequently enough to reflect current conditions.
• Neutral and reliable. The data comes from a reputable, independent source, so it cannot be skewed toward one party.
• Consistent. The methodology stays the same over time, so the benchmark is dependable.
• Comprehensive. It has the data density and breadth to represent the market.
• Backed by history. Historical data is available for back-testing and understanding how the index has behaved.

Xeneta is designed around these principles. The platform collects rates from both the buy side (shippers) and the sell side (carriers and forwarders), which is what keeps the benchmarks neutral and representative.

XSI and XSI®-C

XSI (the Xeneta Shipping Index) is Xeneta's benchmark of real market container freight rates, drawn from a large global pool of crowd-sourced data and updated continuously.

XSI®-C (the Xeneta Shipping Index by Compass) is the validated, governed index built on Xeneta's data and administered by Compass. It is the benchmark that underpins exchange-traded container freight futures, on four major corridors:

• Far East to North Europe
• North Europe to Far East
• Far East to US West Coast
• North Europe to US East Coast

Because XSI®-C is independent, transparent, and rules-based, it can serve both as the reference for an index-linked contract and as the settlement index for freight derivatives.

Explore the XSI®-C index