The Container Throughput Index of the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI) and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) receded slightly in February as expected. However, the decrease from a seasonally adjusted 117.6 to 116.7 was moderate given January's strong hike. The latter was a result of this year's late Chinese New Year celebrations due to which trade contracts with China were brought forward to January.
The January index value did not change since last month's flash forecast. The current flash forecast for February is based on a sample of 24 ports handling roughly 40% of the traffic represented in the index. We therefore still expect significant revisions.
The Index is based on data of world container ports which 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 March 2013 will be published on April 24th.
The January index value did not change since last month's flash forecast. The current flash forecast for February is based on a sample of 24 ports handling roughly 40% of the traffic represented in the index. We therefore still expect significant revisions.
The Index is based on data of world container ports which 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 March 2013 will be published on April 24th.
