Container flows back on track
According to the current flash estimate, the container throughput index of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) showed a slight, seasonally adjusted decrease in November from 121.6 (corrected) to 121. The decline was particularly noticeable in the Chinese ports, whereas in the other ports the increase in throughput tended sideways.
The north range index, which provides information on economic trends in Northern Europe, posted a significant improvement from 111.6 to 113. Therefore, this indicator has now also regained pre corona levels.
The RWI/ISL container throughput index for December 2020 will be published on 26 January 2021. RWI economic director Torsten Schmidt commented that “world trade has apparently largely recovered from its slump in the spring.” (cd)