According to the latest flash estimate, the Container Throughput Index of RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose by a seasonally adjusted 1.2 points in March to now 122.6. In the ports included in the North Range Index, it dropped by 8.4 percent since January.
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The essence in a nutshell:
- The Container Throughput Index of RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose slightly in seasonally adjusted terms from 121.4 (revised) to 122.6 in March. Overall, the index is moving sideward for six months now.
- The North Range Index, which gives an indication of economic developments in the northern euro area and Germany, fell from 111.1 (revised) to 108.8. The lockdown measures across Europe dampen container traffic in the ports.
- In the Chinese ports, container traffic increased slightly on March.
- The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for April 2021 will be published on 27 May 2021.
Commenting on the development of the Container Throughput Index, RWI’s head of economic research Torsten Schmidt says: ‚The limitations on social activities in Europe supposedly contributed the continuing drop of the North Range Index. The progress of the vaccination campaign should facilitate an easing of measures and hence stimulate international trade‘
Source: RWI/ISL