RWI / ISL – “energy price shock has been overcome”
The RWI / ISL container throughput index rose to a seasonally adjusted 123.4 points in May, compared to the previous month. This means that box throughput has now risen four months in a row – but hasn’t yet reached the level of last summer again.
Chinese ports made particularly strong gains, with an increase from 136.4 to 140.5 points. In Europe, container throughput fell again, after a strong increase in the previous month. Overall, however, there are now signs of stabilisation in container handling in Europe.
Torsten Schmidt, RWI’s head of economic research, pointed out that “the rise in energy prices and thus the fall in purchasing power was more serious in Europe than in other parts of the world. Thus the recovery here will take a little longer.” (ah)