Drewry’s Global Container Port Throughput Index fell 3.3 per cent month on month in July, sources indicated on 1 October 2026.
The index series is calendar adjusted and measures volume growth or decline using monthly throughput data for a sample of more than 340 ports worldwide, representing in excess of 80 per cent of global volumes. January 2019 is the base point for the indices, set at 100.
Drewry has also developed a nowcasting model that draws on vessel capacity and terminal information to refine its monthly estimates. The model is presented by Drewry as a way to capture near‑term movements in throughput before full official statistics are available.
A 3.3 per cent month on month decline means the index reading for July was lower than June on a calendar‑adjusted basis. The raw change does not, by itself, identify causes such as shifts in demand, schedule adjustments, port congestion or other operational factors, which Drewry’s summary does not specify.
The indices are widely cited as a timely gauge of global container volumes because the sample covers the large majority of world throughput and the series are adjusted to remove calendar effects. Readers should note that the base point of January 2019 equals 100, which provides a fixed reference for comparing current readings with a pre‑pandemic level.
Key facts
- Index movement reported: down 3.3 per cent month on month in July.
- Coverage: sample of more than 340 ports, representing over 80 per cent of global volumes.
- Base point: January 2019 = 100.
- Source: reports, item dated 1 October 2026.
Method and coverage
Drewry’s series are calendar adjusted to strip out seasonal and calendar effects that can obscure underlying trends. The adjustment and the broad sample aim to make month‑to‑month comparisons more meaningful for practitioners tracking cargo flows.
The nowcasting element supplements late or incomplete port reports by using operational indicators linked to vessel capacity and terminal activity. Drewry presents that model as part of the toolkit supporting the published indices, though the summary provided does not disclose full model specifications.
Interpreting the July reading
A single month‑on‑month fall of 3.3 per cent should be read in context of prior months and broader economic indicators. The index gives a prompt signal of aggregate container throughput performance but does not attribute the movement to particular trade lanes, commodities or regional disturbances.
Market participants and analysts commonly use the indices as an early indicator of volume momentum because of the series’ breadth and the calendar adjustment. Where more detailed diagnosis is required, the index is typically combined with individual port reports, carrier schedules and commodity data.
Sources carried Drewry’s report on 1 October 2026, summarising the July movement and the methodological points noted above. The published item provides the headline change and the core descriptors of the index, its coverage and its base point, which form the factual basis for this report.
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