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Maritime · head to head

Drewry vs MDS Transmodal

Drewry logo

Drewry

Maritime

Maritime research and consulting

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MDS Transmodal logo

MDS Transmodal

Maritime

Freight transport data and analysis

From
$600/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Drewry the World Container Index is described as free but still requires an account to read, and full access depends on subscription rights; MDS Transmodal no pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
  • They diverge on capability: Drewry covers Market research, MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Drewry and MDS Transmodal actually diverge.

Attributes where Drewry and MDS Transmodal differ
AttributeDrewryMDS Transmodal
Starting price$1000/month$600/month
Founded19701988

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maritime).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Drewry

  • Market research
  • Forecasting
  • Benchmarking
  • Advisory services

Only in MDS Transmodal

  • Container trade data
  • Port statistics
  • Intermodal analysis
  • Custom research

Both cover

  • Data exports
  • Custom reports
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Drewry

  • Tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly World Container Indexnot MDS Transmodal
  • Supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessmentsnot MDS Transmodal

MDS Transmodal

  • Transport market feasibility studies and demand forecasting for new opportunitiesnot Drewry
  • Infrastructure planning and transport network capacity analysisnot Drewry
  • Due diligence and risk assessment for freight investment decisionsnot Drewry
  • Freight sector policy analysis and regulatory impact evaluationnot Drewry
  • Quantitative modeling across maritime, rail, road, and logisticsnot Drewry

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Drewry

  • The World Container Index is described as free but still requires an account to read, and full access depends on subscription rights
  • No subscription price is published anywhere on the index pages
  • The container index publishes weekly, so it is not a source for daily rate movement

MDS Transmodal

  • No pricing published on website, consulting-based engagement only
  • Requires direct contact and negotiation for each project engagement
  • Results and services dependent on consultant experience and proprietary databases
  • Not a self-service platform, requires human expertise and custom analysis

Pricing, plan by plan

Drewry

$1000/month
  • Research Subscription$3000/month
    • Market reports
    • Forecasts
    • Data access

MDS Transmodal

$600/month
  • Data Access$1200/month
    • Container data
    • Port statistics
    • Trade flows

Which should you pick?

Choose Drewry if

  • You need market research.
  • You also want forecasting.
Drewry review

Choose MDS Transmodal if

  • You need container trade data.
  • You also want port statistics.
MDS Transmodal review

Questions people ask

Is Drewry or MDS Transmodal better?
Neither clearly leads. Drewry starts at $1000/month and MDS Transmodal at $600/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Drewry or MDS Transmodal?
Drewry starts at $1000/month and MDS Transmodal at $600/month.
Does Drewry or MDS Transmodal run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Drewry best used for?
Drewry is most often used for tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly world container index, supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessments. Of those, tracking container freight rate movements through the weekly world container index and supporting shipping and supply chain research with published rate assessments are not what MDS Transmodal is typically brought in for.
What can Drewry do that MDS Transmodal cannot?
Drewry covers Market research, Forecasting, Benchmarking, Advisory services. MDS Transmodal covers Container trade data, Port statistics, Intermodal analysis, Custom research. Both handle Data exports, Custom reports, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drewry: How much do Drewry subscriptions cost?

Drewry offers annual subscriptions for various services including Container Freight Rate Insight, Benchmarking Club, and forecasters. Specific pricing is not published and requires contacting Drewry directly.

Source
MDS Transmodal: How much does MDS Transmodal cost?

MDS Transmodal does not publish pricing on its website. It is a consulting firm providing bespoke strategic advice. Pricing is quote-based and depends on project scope, duration, data requirements, and consultant time allocation. Contact them directly to discuss your specific transport economics needs.

Source
Drewry: Are Drewry services free?

Drewry offers free content to registered and logged-in users including the World Container Index, market trackers, and indices. Premium services require paid annual subscriptions.

Source
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal offer a software platform or only consulting?

MDS Transmodal is primarily a transport economics consulting firm, not a software vendor. They provide strategic consulting, quantitative analysis, and modeling services. While they maintain proprietary databases and models, they do not offer a self-service software platform.

Source
MDS Transmodal: Does MDS Transmodal cover all transportation modes?

Yes. MDS Transmodal provides analysis and consulting across road, rail, air, and maritime freight sectors. Their expertise spans port connectivity, global shipping networks, trade corridor analysis, and multi-modal supply chain optimization for clients worldwide.

Source
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