Global container streams increasing slightly
The latest flash estimate of the RWI / ISL container throughput index climbed to 124.7 points in August, against an adjusted 123.4 points in the previous month.
Regional container throughput as reported by the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) reregistered greatly varying performances, however.
There was a significant rise in Chinese ports, with the index climbing to 143 points in August, up from 139.3 in July. In contrast, the North Range figure for major European continental ports on the North Sea fell sharply compared to the previous month, from 107.1 (adjusted) to 103.1 points. The RWI/ISL container throughput index for September 2023 will be published on 27 October 2023.
RWI’s head of economic research, Torsten Schmidt, said that “with the increase in August container throughput is continuing its recovery. The increase is largely thanks to Chinese ports, however; in Europe, foreign trade remained weak in the third quarter.” (cd)