RWI/ISL- Container Throughput Index: International tensions weigh on global trade
The most important facts in brief:
- 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 133.1 points in January compared to 128.9 points (revised) in the previous month.
- The North Range Index, which provides an indication of economic development in the northern eurozone and in Germany, rose particularly sharply in January compared to the previous month, climbing from 106.1 (revised) to 110.9 points.
- In the Chinese ports, container throughput was only slightly higher at 141.5 points (revised) compared to 143.0 points in the previous month.
- The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for February 2025 will be published on 27 March 2025.
Commenting on the development of the Container Throughput Index, RWI head of economic research Torsten Schmidt says: ‘Container handling is currently strongly characterised by international tensions. A further recovery in global trade is being prevented, not least due to the threat of tariffs imposed by the new US administration.’
The index is based on data on container throughput in 92 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 from around 78 per cent of the throughput shown in the index. As most international trade is handled by sea, container throughput allows reliable conclusions to be drawn about global trade. As many ports report on their activities just two weeks after the end of a month, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index is a reliable early indicator of the development of international trade in processed goods and therefore also of global economic activity. The Container Throughput Index is part of the statistics on foreign trade in the „Dashboard Deutschland“ of the Federal Statistical Office. 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 Throughput Index can be found at www.rwi-essen.de/containerindex.
Your contacts for this:
Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt, Phone: +49 (201) 8149-287, torsten.schmidt@rwi-essen.de
Alexander Bartel (Communication), Phone: +49 (201) 8149-354, alexander.bartel@rwi-essen.de
Data RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index
Graphic in printable resolution
RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index: North Range
