Global Container Growth Rebound

Global container movements increased in volume during 2018 by 4 percent to 146.4 million twenty foot equivalent containers (TEU), which was down on the 5.6% growth that was witnessed the previous year.

A slowdown of the global economy, caused by escalating trade frictions and weak consumer markets are largely thought to be responsible for last year’s dip in growth.

However, forecasts are suggesting a rebound over the next five or six years and we can expect a solid increase in throughput according to the IHS Markit Trends in the World Economy and Trade report.

The report suggests that demand from the five largest container exporting nations – China, the US, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand – is expected to grow between 4.8% to 5.1% per annum in the period up until 2025.

The days of double-digit growth rates, which the industry had become accustomed to when globalisation was in full flow, are largely predicted to be in the past.