Jan.21--SPOT rates for shipping containers from Asia to northern Europe in the week ending Friday dropped 0.9 per cent to US$970 per TEU, according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI).

　　The rates on the Asia-Mediterranean trade were virtually flat at $978 per TEU, London's Loadstar reported.

　　Asia to US west coast surged 11.6 per cent to $2,114 per FEU while those to the east coast increased 4.8 per cent to $3,187 per FEU.