RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index September: Slight decrease
The Container Throughput Index of the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI) and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) has slightly decreased from (revised) 122.2 to 121.8 points in September. The Index hence fluctuates around 122 points since six months now.
The data for August were revised by 0.2 points up compared to the flash estimate one month ago, which is clearly below the long-term average. The flash estimate for September is based on data from 41 ports, covering a total of about 71% of container throughput shown in the index. Therefore only small revisions of the September data are to be expected.
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 October 2014 will be published on 25 November.
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