RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index: World trade development lacking direction
During February, the RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index showed a robust increase from 123.1 points in January (unchanged) to 126.3 points. The flash estimate for February is based on handling data of 38 ports, which account for a combined 70 percent of the entire index.
The interpretation of this growth is tricky though as the US port congestion has had a dampening effect on the index, whilst the unusually late Chinese new year holidays (more precisely: the seasonal production increase ahead of the holidays) should be responsible for most of the growth of the index in February.
The implications for the world trade development are thus unclear at the moment.
The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for March 2015 will be published on 21 April.