Back to a rise in trade volumes in 2019?
According to the current flash estimate, the container throughput index of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose to 138.5 in May. Furthermore, the figure for April was revised from 134.7 to 137.4 – an unusually significant correction.
A main reason for this is the upward revision of figures in some Chinese ports. Throughput in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas has however fallen sharply, probably due to US sanctions.
RWI’s chief economist Roland Döhrn: “It is possible that the international economic situation has shown itself to be more robust than expected, which is also indicated by the GDP levels for the first quarter.”
The flash estimate for May is based on data supplied by 48 ports that process about 77% of the throughput depicted in the index. RWI and ISL will publish their container throughput index for June 2019 on 23 July 2019. (cd)