If you work in global container shipping, chances are you’ve seen the Korea Containerized Freight Index (KCCI) mentioned here and there over the past few years. It’s been an important benchmark inside Korea since 2022, especially for anyone dealing with Busan-origin cargo, but for most industry professionals outside the region, it wasn’t something you could easily access.
At the end of November during Busan Maritime Finance Week 2025, AXSMarine and KOBC signed an MOU that officially brings the KCCI into the Alphaliner platform. We wanted to share why this partnership matters and how it came to life.
A partnership years in the making
Although the agreement was signed last week, the real story started much earlier. Our teams first discussed KCCI with KOBC several years ago, when they were exploring how to extend the index’ reach beyond the domestic market. At the time, KCCI was already gaining traction in Korea as it was built using real-rate disclosures from local shipping companies and developed to reflect Busan’s freight flows more accurately than indices tied to China departures.
What struck us early on was how aligned our organizations were. KOBC wanted Korean-origin data to be properly represented on the global stage; we wanted Alphaliner users to gain access to a richer, more balanced view of Northeast Asian freight dynamics. The intent was mutual long before the signatures were.
A moment that felt bigger than a signing ceremony
The MOU ceremony took place right after the VVIP luncheon at Lotte Hotel Busan as a part of Busan Maritime Finance Week and the atmosphere around it felt significant.
KOBC’s President, Ahn Byung-gil, attended alongside our CCO, Steve Fletcher, and both teams. Korean industry media framed the partnership as a “turning point” for KCCI, and the sentiment on-site matched that energy.
For KOBC, this wasn’t just about publishing an index globally. It was about elevating Korean shipping data to a place where it could stand alongside and complement the other global benchmarks analysts rely on every day. For us, it was about giving our users a clearer view of what’s happening out of Busan, one of Asia’s busiest and most strategically important container ports.
Why KCCI matters globally
KCCI tracks weekly spot freight rates from Busan to 13 major trade lanes. By integrating it into Alphaliner, we’re making Korea-origin data available 24/7 to thousands of professionals who rely on our platform for market intelligence.
For many of our users, this will fill a gap that has been growing for years. Rates out of Busan don’t always move in lockstep with Shanghai, Ningbo, or Qingdao. Thus, when they diverge, understanding why matters. With KCCI now available globally, analysts, shippers, and carriers can incorporate that viewpoint directly into their models, forecasts, and operational decisions.
In the words of Korean media covering the signing, expectations are high that KCCI will continue to evolve into one of the key freight indices in Asia. And now, that evolution will happen in full view of the global market.
A small ceremony with a big impact
For the people in the room that day, the signing was more than a few remarks from each side, a handshake, a group photo. It represented something bigger: a data bridge between two organizations that share the same belief in transparency, accessibility, and the value of reliable market intelligence.
KCCI going global isn’t just a feature addition. It’s the start of a broader collaboration between KOBC and AXSMarine, one that has the potential to open new doors in maritime information sharing and analysis.
We’re proud to support this next chapter for KCCI, and we’re excited for our users to experience the benefits firsthand.
