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RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index: Global trade is showing signs of recovery

Press release from the

Global container throughput rose slightly in May, following a decline in the previous two months. This suggests that the pressures on world trade caused by the oil price shock resulting from the war in Iran are easing. Overall, world trade is proving to be more resilient than initially expected.

Container throughput at international ports rose slightly in May 2026. The Container Handling Index, calculated by the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Maritime Transport and Logistics (ISL), rose by 0.3 points from 141.6 (revised) to 141.9 index points. This marks a stabilisation of the index following the significant declines in the previous two months. 

One reason for this stabilisation is likely to be that the pressure caused by the sharp rise in oil prices following the war in Iran has eased. The price of Brent crude reached its peak at the end of April and has since fallen by almost 30 per cent. However, the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked throughout May.

Differences in key port regions 

An increase in container throughput was observed primarily in the ports of Northern Europe. The Nordrange Index, which is regarded as a leading indicator of economic development in the northern eurozone, particularly in Germany, rose from 119.6 points (revised) to 120.0 points. 

By contrast, the index for Chinese ports fell from 158.9 to 157.6 points. This is likely to be a continued correction following the sharp rise in container throughput at the start of the year.

The recovery in world trade is likely to continue

Commenting on the trend in the Container Handling Index, RWI Chief Economist Torsten Schmidt said: “The stabilisation of the RWI/ISL Container Handling Index suggests that the pressures caused by the war in Iran are easing. Should the negotiations between the US and Iran lead to the Strait of Hormuz being kept open on a permanent basis, global trade is likely to recover further.”

About the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index:

The RWI/ISL Container Handling Index for June 2026 will be published on 31 July 2026.

The index incorporates data on container throughput at 90 international ports, which account for around 64 per cent of global container throughput, collected on an ongoing basis as part of the ISL Monthly Container Port Monitor. The current flash estimate for the Container Throughput Index is based on data covering 82,6 per cent of the throughput represented in the index. As international trade is primarily conducted by sea, container throughput provides reliable insights into global trade. Because many ports report their activities just two weeks after the end of a month, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index is a reliable leading indicator of trends in international trade in manufactured goods and, consequently, of global economic activity. The Container Throuput Index forms part of the foreign trade statistics in the Federal Statistical Office’s “Dashboard Deutschland”. It is also 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 Further background information on the RWI/ISL Container Throuput Index can be found at www.rwi-essen.de/containerindex.

Your contacts for this matter:

Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt, Tel.: (0201) 8149-287, torsten.schmidt@rwi-essen.de

Alexander Schlösser (Communication), Tel.: (0201) 8149-354, alexander.schloesser@rwi-essen.de 

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