Negative impact on world trade
In October 2022, the container throughput index published by the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) declined sharply to 120.8 points from the 124.2 points (seasonally adjusted) registered the month before, according to the latest flash estimate.
Throughput in the Chinese ports went down moderately with the index moving from 130.8 to 129.3 points. In contrast, the index for Europe’s North Range declined significantly from 115.0 to 108.4 points. The RWI/ISL index for November 2022 will be published on 22 December 2022.
Torsten Schmidt, RWI’s head of economic research, commented: “The quite significant decline in container throughput in October could indicate the beginning of a weak phase in the global economy in the winter half-year. The sharp increase in energy prices is having a negative impact on production worldwide and is now likely to have an impact on world trade as well.”