RWI/ISL Container Throughput Input Index

Container throughput in Europe continues to recover

26.06.2024

According to the latest flash estimate by the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL), the Container Throughput Index rose to a seasonally adjusted 129.9 points in May compared to the previous month. The increase in container throughput in European ports was the main contributing factor.

The essence in a nutshell:

  • The seasonally adjusted Container Throughput Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose to a seasonally adjusted 129.9 points in May compared to 129.1 points (revised) in the previous month.
  • The North Range Index, which provides an indication of economic development in the northern eurozone and Germany, rose significantly in May compared to the previous month from 110.4 (revised) to 111.9 points. The recovery in container throughput is thus continuing after a decline in the previous month.
  • In contrast, container throughput in Chinese ports fell slightly from 143.2 points in the previous month to 142.9 points. 
  • The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for June 2024 will be published on July 26, 2024.

 

Torsten Schmidt

RWI’s head of economic research
Global container throughput increased quite significantly in April and May. This indicates a further upturn in global trade in the second quarter. This should support the economic recovery in Europe in particular.

About the RWI/ISL- Container Throughput Index

The index takes into account container throughput data continuously collected on an ongoing basis by the ISL Monthly Container Port Monitor at 92 international ports, representing approximately 64% of global container throughput. The present flash estimate for the Container Throughput Index relies on data representing approximately 47% of the throughput represented in the index. Since international trade is mainly handles by sea, the development of container throughput provides reliable insights into global merchandise trade. As many ports already report their data a fortnight after the end of each month, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index is a reliable early indicator of the international merchandise trade and hence also of global economic activity. 

The Container Troughput Index is used by many international bodies such as UNCTAD and is included in the Shipping/Port Data section of the WTO’s Global Trade Data Portal.

Data series for individual ports are available in the ISL Monthly Container Port Monitor.

RWI/ISL Container Throughput Input Index: Container throughput in Europe continues to recover