RWI/ISL Index: World trade stable despite economic burdens

According to the latest flash estimate, the Container Throughput Index of the RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose slightly in September compared to the previous month to 126.8 points after seasonal adjustment. The increase was mainly the result of Chinese ports, while it weakened in Northern European ports.

The most important facts in brief:

• The Container Handling Index of RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL), seasonally adjusted, rose slightly in September to 126.8 points compared to 125.9 points (revised) in the previous month.
• In the Chinese ports, container throughput expanded somewhat more strongly after a significant decline in the previous months. The index value for Chinese ports rose from 135.1 to 136.4.
• The North Range Index, which gives indications of economic developments in the northern euro area and Germany, declined slightly in September from 115.5 (revised) to 115.0 compared to the previous month.
• The RWI/ISL Container Throughput Index for October 2022 will be published on 30 November 2022.

Commenting on the development of the container throughput index, RWI head of economic research Torsten Schmidt says: "Container throughput rose slightly worldwide in September. Overall, it continues to show a fairly stable upward trend. In contrast, container throughput in Europe has developed significantly weaker since the summer. Here, the economic slowdown due to rising energy prices seems to be having a stronger impact on container throughput than in the rest of the world."

Source: RWI, Photo: Fotolia