With Germany recording a recession this year, the demand for goods is expected to slow down in the coming peak season, contributing to a global trade slowdown. 

The further decline in consumer spending in the coming months will have a negative impact on peak season demand coming from Europe. 

“We anticipate that the recession now in Germany will reduce the economic activity resulting from dropping consumer demand for goods and services, which will in turn impact the peak season demand this year.” predicted Christian Roeloffs, cofounder and CEO, Container xChange, an online marketplace and operating infrastructure for container logistics. 

“Reduced consumer demand and economic activity in Europe can lead to decreased imports, affecting export-dependent economies. This can result in a slowdown in global trade and contribute to a broader economic downturn.” added Roeloffs. 

Amidst the current challenges posed by rising inflation and the subsequent increase in the cost of living, Europe and UK have witnessed labour strikes taking place this year across several European countries. Countries such as France, Portugal, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands have experienced such strikes, causing disruptions at ports and significantly impacting the smooth flow of cargo movements.

“The consequences of these strikes have reverberated through the transportation and logistics sector, particularly at ports, which are vital hubs for global trade. Disruptions in cargo movements can lead to delays, increased costs, and logistical challenges for businesses relying on efficient supply chains. It further underscores the interconnectedness of various economic sectors and the importance of stable labor relations for sustained economic growth.” commented Roeloffs on the topic of industrial unrest in form of labour union strikes.

The demand has already dipped if we look at the port throughput in Hamburg, Rotterdam and Antwerp. 

All three ports announced declines in throughput over the three-month period (January – March 2023). The port of Rotterdam posted an 11.6 percent decline in container volume to 3.2 million TEU, a trend that started last year due to the elimination of volumes to and from Russia. Antwerp-Bruges handled 3.1 million TEU in the first quarter, a 5.7 percent drop that was led by a nearly two-thirds decline in Russia-related cargo.

Port of Rotterdam Reflects Declining Asian Imports (-14.2% in TEUs) amidst stock accumulation and inflation-driven demand drop

“As the recession takes hold, it is expected to have a significant impact on labour demands and inflation, exacerbating the already declining consumer demand. This, in turn, is likely to lead to negative retail inventory refilling throughout Europe. This will also have a negative impact on exports from Asia.” commented Roeloffs. 

Container Availability in Europe 

In the year 2021, ports in Europe witnessed a rise in values between week 9 to week 21 (March–May). Cyclic in nature, this was owing to a rise in the number of cargo-filled containers reaching these ports soon after the Chinese New Year until May end, as the retailers restocked heavily preparing for the peak season. This trend did not mirror in 2023. Clearly validating that the inventory replenishment was flat in these months in 2022 and in 2023. 

This could have a number of reasons. One, the invasion of Russia on Ukraine. The second, is the rising inflation and recession. And third, the resulting recessionary behaviours by the retailers and the consumers which leads to a slower trade, amongst many other effects. 

The CAx graphs below showcase the clear references from above. 

Hamburg CAx 20 ft DC 

Rotterdam CAx 20 ft DC 

Antwerp CAx 20 ft DC 

• Container prices in Europe

We witness a general decline in the average container prices in Europe for 20 ft DC, while the prices for 40 ft HC have been relatively stable at the key ports. The trend is visible in the graphs below. 

Average container prices for 40 ft HC have not declined in May across key ports in Europe

Average container prices chart 40 ft High Cube_brand new  

Average container prices for 20 ft DC continue to decline in May across key ports in Europe

 Average container prices chart 20 ft DC cargo worthy

Year on Year comparison of average container prices in Europe

In 2023, the average container prices for 20ft and 40ft containers are down to almost half of what they were in 2021 when the demand for containers was at its peak. 

Annexure: 

*Container Availability index (CAx)

With CAx, you can check container availability in major ports worldwide. Learn where there is a shortage or oversupply of empty containers and leverage it for your trading and leasing business. 

Thanks to data on container and cargo movements, the CAx figures are forecasted for the next 4 weeks as well. 

A CAx value of 0.5 means that the same number of containers full of cargo leave and enter a port in the same week. CAx values above 0.5 mean that more containers with cargo enter and CAx values below 0.5 mean more containers with cargo leave a specific port. 

Low CAx values over a period of multiple weeks indicate a deficit of containers, and high values over a period of multiple weeks indicate a surplus of equipment at a specific port.