About Us

CTS has been a trusted source of quality TEU volume and price index data since 2008, filling the gap left by the demise of the liner conference system in Europe. Initially established as a wholly owned subsidiary of the European Liner Affairs Association (ELAA), the industry’s leading lobby organisation in Brussels, our role was to manage data services for its members. Following ELAA’s closure in 2010, we transitioned to independence and became the designated data service provider for the newly formed World Liner Data Limited (WLDL). This created transparency, improved accuracy and opened the door for non-EU-based carriers to contribute to the database.

As a not-for-profit entity, WLDL comprises the top global container shipping lines, collecting and disseminating their TEU liftings and pricing data. The web-based statistics database is owned by member lines through WLDL, with CTS managing it on their behalf. We handle data capture, cleaning, aggregation, and report production for members while selling data to the public as WLDL’s agent. As a result, CTS is highly regulated by various global competition authorities, ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders worldwide.

To see more about how we are regulated, read our FAQs HERE.

Our trade volume reports are based on data contributed by WLDL members, with missing volume estimates for non-contributing members (NCls). We use various sources and techniques to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Our reports on the flagship Far East to and from Europe trade are derived from 100% contributed data, reflecting our commitment to accuracy and reliability.