RWI/ISL Container Handling Index: Strong recovery in world trade

The container handling index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) has risen further to 116.2 according to the latest quick estimate in July. The revival of world trade is thus gaining in breadth.

The most important facts in brief:

-The Container Handling Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose significantly in July, seasonally adjusted, from (revised) 110.2 to 116.2. It is thus only slightly below the previous year's figure.
-The value for June has been revised downwards by 1.3 points compared with the flash estimate.
-The revival in global trade is gaining in breadth. Cargo handling in Chinese ports again reached an all-time high. However, there was also a strong increase in cargo handling outside China.
-The North Range Index, which gives an indication of economic development in the northern euro zone and in Germany, improved by 6.8 points. This is the strongest -The current quick estimate for the container handling index is based on data from 51 ports, which handle around 74 percent of the cargo covered by the index.
The RWI/ISL Container Handling Index for August 2020 will be published on September 24, 2020.

Regarding the development of the Container Handling Index, RWI Economic Director Torsten Schmidt says: "Container handling is approaching the level reached before the Corona crisis. The recovery is affecting more and more regions, especially the North Sea ports".

Source: RWI Essen, Photo: Fotolia