World container throughput recovers, says RWI/ISL
According to current flash estimates, the container throughput index of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose to 136.9 in March, thus offsetting, at least in part, the sharp drop to 134.5 reported in February.
Container volumes in the Chinese ports in particular surged again in March, generating a quarterly average of 136.6 in Q1/2019, slightly below the result of Q1/2018. The flash estimate for March is based on data from 49 ports that handle about 76% of the throughput described in the index.
Roland Döhrn, RWI’s head of macroeconomics, commented: “The container throughput index has fluctuated strongly over the last few months. However, a collapse, which was feared because of the trade conflicts, does not appear likely at the moment. The underlying trend of the index is sideways." The RWI/ISL container throughput index for April 2019 will be published on 21 May 2019. (kd)