About Us

Our Story

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.

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.

Our Timeline

CTS Company Values

Meet The Team

Nigel Pusey

Chief Executive Officer

Nigel’s career spans the breadth of the global shipping industry, highlighted by key roles such as Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk Line in Copenhagen and CEO of Container Inland Services within the AP Moller–Maersk Group. He further distinguished himself as CEO of The Maersk Company Limited (UK) and Non-Executive Chairman of INTTRA. Nigel’s leadership prowess extended to his tenure as Chief Commercial Officer at Inchcape Shipping Services.

Prior to his time with AP Moller–Maersk, Nigel played pivotal roles at P&O Nedlloyd and P&O Containers, including positions such as Corporate Finance Director and Managing Director of Southern Africa. With his wealth of experience, Nigel is an accomplished maritime authority who has driven innovation and excellence throughout his career.

Claire Thackeray

Sales & Marketing Manager

After completing her degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Portsmouth, Claire embarked on her career in education, initially teaching at a middle school. However, she later transitioned into the realm of sales, where she has accumulated over a decade of experience in B2B sales and marketing across diverse sectors, including travel and shipping. Since joining CTS, Claire has played a pivotal role in implementing CRM and marketing tools, enhancing sales strategy, revamping the company’s website, and establishing CTS as a prominent exhibitor at trade shows.

With a keen interest in leveraging cutting-edge technologies, Claire is deeply passionate about harnessing the power of data and AI to drive growth and innovation at CTS. Currently, she is actively pursuing an AI course to further enhance her understanding and expertise in this field.

Florence Taylor

Marketing & Sales Executive

Florence embarked on her journey with the team in October 2022, after completing her Marketing and Communications degree with First Class Honours. Delving into the container shipping trade industry for the first time, she brought a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn. Over the past 18 months, Florence has immersed herself in the intricacies of the industry, gaining invaluable insights and expertise. She has played a pivotal role in implementing a new CRM and marketing platform, spearheaded the design of a revamped website, and expanded her knowledge through additional courses.

Florence remains committed to driving growth and innovation within our organisation. Beyond her professional pursuits, Florence nurtures her passion for travel, finding synergy with the boundless opportunities the shipping industry presents.

Dominic Hill

Customer Data Manager

A 40-year IT industry veteran with over two decades of expertise in data analysis, Dominic is a seasoned professional known for solving intricate problems in education, sales, and marketing. His robust business acumen is demonstrated through his ability to develop and manage relationships at all levels, optimising operations across private and public sectors. Proficient with BI tools like Power BI and Tableau, he excels in managing large datasets, creating dynamic reports, and driving strategic decisions. At Container Trades Statistics Limited, he continues to harness extensive experience to advance data-driven insights and improve organisational outcomes.

Colin Sidwell

Trades Data Manager

Colin’s journey with CTS began in March 2019, bringing a wealth of expertise accumulated over 40 years in data analysis and business intelligence. With a diverse background spanning business telecommunications, supply chain, and travel sectors, Colin offers a multifaceted perspective to the CTS team.

His proficiency in Excel programming has been instrumental in enhancing our reporting capabilities, streamlining processes, and driving efficiency. His leadership, expertise and commitment to excellence have enriched our team dynamics and client relationships.

Caroline Winter

Trades Analyst

Caroline graduated from the University of Exeter with honours in Business and Management and has spent 13 years within analytical roles across various industries. She has predominantly built her skill set through merchandising, where she has delivered and exceeded various KPI targets and helped improve processes and company ways of working. With this experience she has applied her skills to the data team, with key influence on analysing new market data as well as onboarding new shipping lines, integrating their data into the data world of CTS.

Charlene Yuan Shi

Trade Analyst

Charlene recently joined CTS as a member of the data team. She holds a Master’s degree in Insurance and Risk Management from Bayes Business School, along with a degree in Management Accounting. With over a decade of experience across various industries, Charlene has worked extensively with both customer and financial data. She has been a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute since 2010. Her primary expertise lies in analysing large datasets and identifying key metrics to derive actionable insights. She looks forward to applying her skill set to the Container Shipping industry and expanding her knowledge in this new field.