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RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index: War in Iran weakens global trade

Press release from the

Global container traffic dropped in March. Geopolitical tensions and increasing costs decelerate the dynamics of world trade.

Container traffic at major international ports decreased significantly in March 2026. After a strong increase in February, the index compiled by by RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) decreased by 4.5 points from 147.1 (revised) to 142.6 index points. By this, the index dropped below the January value and the growth dynamics have weakened.

Softening in important port ranges

In the North European ports, the downward trend that has been observed during since the beginning of the year continues. The North Range Index – which indicates the economic development in the northern Euro area, decreased slightly from 119.4 points (revised) to 118.6 points. 

Chinese ports have also seen a decline in container throughput. The corresponding index fell from a revised 165.9 points in February to 161.8 points in March. This indicates a weakening export momentum in one of the world’s most important trading regions.

German export slump continues

Torsten Schmidt, RWI’s Head of Economic Research, notes on the development: "The global RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index fell sharply in March, after rising significantly in February. The war in Iran and rising transport and energy costs are expected to further weigh on global economic activity. The downward trend in northern European ports has continued since the beginning of the year. The war in Iran is therefore likely to further increase the current weakness in German exports."

Torsten Schmidt, head of economic forecasting at the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, assesses the current developments as follows: “The decline in March shows how vulnerable global trade currently is to geopolitical shocks. A war with Iran and the resulting higher costs are putting increasing pressure on global supply chains.”

“This is bad news for the German economy,” says Schmidt. “The weakness of the northern European ports suggests that the export slump is more likely to worsen than to lessen.”

About the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index

Der RWI/ISL-Containerumschlag-Index für April 2026 wird am 29. Mai 2026 veröffentlicht.

The index includes data on container throughput collected for ISL’s Monthly Container Port Monitor from 90 international ports, which account for around 64 percent of global container throughput. The current flash estimate for the container throughput index is based on data from 89 percent of the throughput represented in the index. Since international trade is mainly carried out by sea, container transshipments allow reliable conclusions to be drawn about world trade. Because 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 developments in international trade in manufactured goods and thus also of global economic activity.

Data for single ports are available in the ISL Monthly Container Port Monitor.

Your contacts for this matter:

Prof. Dr. Torsten Schmidt, Phone: +49 201 8149-287, torsten.schmidt@rwi-essen.de

Alexander Bartel (Communications), Phone: +49 201 8149-354, alexander.bartel@rwi-essen.de

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