Container Throughput Index: Container throughput in Europe further declines

The Container Throughput Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose by 2 points in June compared to the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 125.2 points according to the latest flash estimate. This means that the recovery in global container throughput has accelerated again to some extent. In contrast, throughput in European ports declined slightly.

The most important facts in brief:

• The Container Throughput Index of RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose seasonally adjusted in June to 125.2 points compared to 123.2 points (revised) in the previous month.
• The pick-up in container throughput is mainly due to ports outside China and Europe. Despite this increase, container throughput in these regions of the world is still significantly lower than before the Corona crisis.
• In the Chinese ports, container throughput continued to recover slightly. The index value for Chinese ports rose from 137.8 to 139.2.
• The North Range Index, which gives indications of economic developments in the northern euro area and Germany, was little changed in June from the previous month's 104.2 (revised) to 104.0.
• The RWI/ISL Container Handling Index for July 2023 will be published on 31 August 2023.

Commenting on the development of the container throughput index, RWI head of economic research Torsten Schmidt says: "Container throughput continued its recovery in June at a slightly stronger pace. Handling outside China and Europe is recovering particularly strongly. In China the gradual recovery is continuing, while in Europe container throughput is declining slightly. This means that Europe is likely to lag behind other world regions in terms of economic recovery as well."

Source: RWI Photo: Fotolia