During September, the negative trend that the RWI/ISL-Container Throughput-Index has been subject to since roughly one year continued. The index declined from a (revised) 117.3 points in August 2015 to 117.2 points in September 2015, thus indicating an extraordinary weak phase in global trade in manufactures. The current flash estimate for September is based on 35 ports representing approximately 70 % of the throughput included in the index. The flash estimate for August has been revised up by 0.3 points.

The index is based on data of 81 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 2015 will be published on 25 November.

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Contact:

Prof. Dr. Roland Döhrn, Tel.: +49 (0201) 8149-262 e-mail
Katharina Fischer (Press office RWI), Tel.: +49 (0201) 8149-244, e-mail