Dan Albright

Gains in mature economies have not been significant enough to offset losses in emerging countries.

A slowdown in emerging markets was a drag on global GDP growth.

International trade patterns are changing and demand for containerized transportation is becoming more volatile.

Global container throughput is expected to grow slightly, in the first quarter after dipping -0.11 percent in Q4.

Geopolitical conflict and disease dampened growth in 2014, but total activity remained steady through the year.

Geopolitical risks have had adverse consequences on world trade in some regions, while others have held steady.

World trade is growing—but only slightly.

Despite the eurozone's fiscal troubles, global trade in Q1/2014 increased at an estimated rate of 1.3 percent, to US $2.234 billion. That growth was largely fueled by rising exports and domestic market demand in developed economies.

Global trade is seeing an uptick thanks in part to stronger economic performance in the United States.

China, the United States, and Germany drove modest global economic growth in Q3