The Drewry Container Port Throughput Indices are a series of calendar adjusted volume growth/decline indices based on monthly throughput data for a sample of over 340 ports worldwide, representing over 80% of global volumes. The base point for the indices is January 2019 = 100.
Drewry has developed a nowcasting model that uses vessel capacity and terminal duration data (derived from our proprietary AIS model) to make short-term predictions of port throughput.
Drewry's latest assessment
1. Drewry's Global Container Port Throughput Index decreased 1.4% MoM in February, but was 8.8% higher YoY. The rolling 12-month average growth rate for global port handling rose slightly to 6.5%. Drewry's Nowcasting model indicates a likely rise of 2.8% MoM in Global Port Throughput Index in March 2025, equating to a 6.5% YoY increase.
2. The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index plunged 9.2% MoM to 113.1 points in February, but on an annual basis rose 12.8% YoY. Having started 2025 with record volumes in January, throughput slumped across the board in February due to the two week CNY holidays. As a result, volumes were down 22% MoM at Shanghai, 27% MoM at Ningbo and 16% at Shenzhen.
3. The European Container Port Throughput Index surged 6.9% in February to 111.5 points, the highest level in over two years, while the rolling 12-month average growth rate improved to 5.9%, just behind the global average of 6.5%. In Southern Europe, the main Spanish ports had a very mixed February as changes to alliance schedules started to take effect. Volumes at Valencia, which is heavily utilised by MSC, rose 8.3% MoM and were up 15% YoY, while at Algeciras they fell 6.0% MoM dropping 16.9% YoY with the new Gemini cooperation services favouring Tanger Med for transhipment.
4. The Middle East and South Asia Container Port Throughput Index increased 0.4% in February, up 9.7% YoY. Low growth was mainly due to reduction in Indian port volumes in February with throughput at Mundra decreasing 16% MoM, Chennai traffic dropping 14% and Jawaharlal Nehru Port box handling falling 3%. Colombo throughput was also down 8% MoM.
Source: Drewry