The Drewry Container Port Throughput Indices are a series of volume growth/decline indices based on monthly throughput data for a sample of over 235 ports worldwide, representing over 75% of global volumes. The base point for the indices is January 2012 = 100.

Drewry Global Port Throughput Index rose by just 0.8% on a MoM basis to reach 137.9 points in March 2022. The usual post-Chinese New Year recovery is notable by its absence, with the imposition of Covid lockdown measures across several major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, resulting in softer than expected port throughput growth rates in Greater China. On a YoY basis the Index is down 2.8%, but this is just 4.1% lower than the all-time high of 143.8 points that was reached in June 2021.

The Greater China Container Port Throughput Index increased 9.7% MoM in March 2022. However, the Index dropped 0.2% on a YoY basis as China stepped up its battle with the Omicron variant. There will be a knock-on effect in other world regions from April 2022 onwards.

North America recorded 1.5% uplift in port handling,which was the only region recording a positive YoY result.

The steepest YoY drop in container port volumes was reported in Europe, where throughput at the sample ports was 7.6% lower in March 2022 than March 2021. There was a sharp downturn in volumes at Russian ports due to the swift imposition of sanctions on the country following its invasion of Ukraine, with secondary impacts felt at the main northwest European hub ports.
Source: Drewry