Global container flows better than expected
The container throughput index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) increased by 3.2 points (seasonally adjusted) to 126.6 points in August, according to the current flash estimate.
The value of the Chinese ports' index was higher than anticipated, growing from 126.4 to 131.6. The European North Range Index moved sidewards, from 114.8 (revised) to 114.2 points. Thus, Chinese backlogs had less impact than many experts had predicted. The RWI/ISL container throughput index for September 2021 will be published on 29 October 2021.
RWI's head of economic research Torsten Schmidt comments: "While the Chinese ports have overcome their challenges, container throughput in Europe is not running smoothly at this stage." (cd)