Recently published figures show that the growth in container freight volumes throughout the world increased by 25% in February, compared with the same month last year. This growth in cargo was coming from a low base, but it is the biggest volume increase on record. The statistics were gathered from ports representing about two thirds of global international trade, and – while it is expected that growth will slow to 15% this month – it is still an encouraging sign. The company which compiled the report says that it is too early to say whether the increase was mainly due to re-stocking and renewed manufacturing output as workers in China returned to factories after the New Year.