Mixed global picture for container volumes

Although container handling has increased in China this was not enough to offset the steep year-on-year drops across North America, Oceania and Europe.

The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index showed a 4.7% year-on-year increase in February 2023 with the largest annual increases reported by Guangzhou and Qingdao at 15% and 13% respectively.

However, volumes at Shanghai fell 4% year-on-year and Shenzhen traffic was down 8.5% year-on-year in February 2023.

The European Container Port Throughput Index rose 7.1% month-on-month in February 2023, but remained 6.6% below the February 2022 levels.

Port calls fell 43% year-on-year at Wilhelmshaven and 37% at Zeebrugge in March 2023 owing to reduced congestion at the major hubs. In the western Mediterranean, the 14% year-on-year downturn in Valencia container volumes was mainly due to a 23% year-on-year reduction in transshipment traffic.

The Oceania Container Port Throughput Index dropped 5% month-on-month in February 2023 to 97.5 points, down 16% year-on-year. The index has been trending downwards since August 2022. Throughput at Sydney fell 26% year-on-year in February 2023, the lowest monthly throughput since February 2017.