Based on the recent high level, the Container Throughput Index of the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI) and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) has again slightly improved in April. It climbed from (corrected) 122.3 to 122.5 points. Thus, the observed upward trend in global trade since fall 2013 appears to be continued.
Compared to the flash estimate issued a month ago, the data for March were only corrected by 0.3 points downwards, so that the revision goes down less than the long-term average. The flash estimate for April based on data from 33 ports only covers around 50% of container throughput shown in the index. Since data for some large ports in China are missing, larger revisions are still possible.
The Index is based on data of 75 world container ports covering approximately 60% of worldwide container handling. The ports are continuously monitored by the ISL as part of their market analysis. Because large parts of international merchandise trade are transported by ship, the development of port handling is a good indicator for world trade. As many ports release information about their activities only two weeks after the end of the respective month, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index is a reliable early indicator for the development of international merchandise trade and hence for the activity of the global economy.
The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for May 2014 will be published on June 24th.
Compared to the flash estimate issued a month ago, the data for March were only corrected by 0.3 points downwards, so that the revision goes down less than the long-term average. The flash estimate for April based on data from 33 ports only covers around 50% of container throughput shown in the index. Since data for some large ports in China are missing, larger revisions are still possible.
The Index is based on data of 75 world container ports covering approximately 60% of worldwide container handling. The ports are continuously monitored by the ISL as part of their market analysis. Because large parts of international merchandise trade are transported by ship, the development of port handling is a good indicator for world trade. As many ports release information about their activities only two weeks after the end of the respective month, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index is a reliable early indicator for the development of international merchandise trade and hence for the activity of the global economy.
The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for May 2014 will be published on June 24th.
