RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index: Growth limited to China
by David Fleschen
he RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index, published by the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL), experienced a slight increase in July, reaching a seasonally adjusted level of 133.2 points. This growth was primarily driven by a significant rise in container handling at Chinese ports, while European ports saw a decline after three consecutive months of growth.
Key Points:
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Overall Index Increase: The Container Throughput Index saw a modest rise in July, continuing its upward trend. The index now stands at 133.2 points, adjusted for seasonal fluctuations.
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European Ports Struggle: The Nordrange Index, which provides insights into the economic activity in Northern Europe and Germany, dropped from 102.4 points in June to 101.6 points in July. This decline suggests a disruption in the recovery observed over the past few months. Notably, the Nordrange Index for this month was calculated without data from the Port of Antwerp due to technical issues, making direct comparisons with previous months less accurate.
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China Leads Growth: Chinese ports demonstrated robust performance, with their container throughput increasing from 147.5 points in June to 150.3 points in July. This significant growth contrasts with the overall stagnation or decline seen in other regions.
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Looking Ahead: The next RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for August 2024 is scheduled for release on September 30, 2024.
This latest data highlights the uneven recovery in global trade, with China's ports leading the way in container throughput growth, while European ports face renewed challenges.
Source: RWI, Photo: Fotolia