Index: Container throughput stable despite disruptions in the Red Sea

According to the latest flash estimate, the Container Throughput Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) is virtually unchanged from the previous month at a seasonally adjusted 125.1 points in December. The attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea have not yet had any visible impact on container throughput. In European ports, container throughput even increased slightly towards the end of the year.

The most important facts in brief:

• The Container Throughput Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) was only slightly lower than in the previous month at 125.1 points (seasonally adjusted) compared to 125.4 points (revised) in December.
  
• Container throughput in the Chinese ports also fell slightly. The index value fell from 137.4 to 136.9 points.
  
• The North Range Index, which provides an indication of economic development in the northern eurozone and Germany, rose quite significantly in December compared to the previous month from 101.3 (revised) to 102.3 points.

The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for January 2024 will be published on 29 February 2024.

Commenting on the development of the Container Throughput Index, RWI Head of Economic Research Torsten Schmidt says: "Global container throughput was stable at the end of the year despite the renewed negative impact of the attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea. However, freight rates have risen sharply in the wake of the attacks. This is likely to dampen demand for goods once again. Although the North Range Index has risen, the economy in Europe is still not expected to show any significant improvement."

Source: RWI, Photo: Fotolia