RWI/ISL Container Handling Index: Sharp decline in Europe

According to the latest flash estimate, the Container Handling Index of RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose in February compared to the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 122.4 points. This made up for the decline from the previous month. However, the decline in European ports continued unabated.

The most important facts in brief:

• The Container Handling Index of RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose in seasonally adjusted terms in February to 122.4 points compared to 117.2 points (revised) in the previous month.
  In contrast, the decline in European ports continued. The North Range Index of major continental European ports on the North Sea fell sharply again in February from 93.6 to 89.8 compared to the previous month.
• In the Chinese ports, on the other hand, container throughput fell only slightly. The index was 130.1 in February after 132.3 in January. However, experience shows that the values are uncertain due to the Chinese holidays at the beginning of the year.
  The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for March 2023 will be published on 27 April 2023.

Commenting on the development of the container throughput index, RWI Head of Economic Research Torsten Schmidt says: "While global container throughput was able to make up for its decline in January, it continued to fall in Europe. This points to weak foreign trade, especially in Germany."

Source: RWI, Photo: Fotolia