In the following statistical analyses we employed data for all 35
ports. To facilitate regional comparisons in graphs we grouped
ports into 14 market areas, and with one exception, taking the value
of the port with the highest rate quoted. The only exception is
China, where we excluded the inland port of Wuhan that consistently
had the highest rates because it is served by second party
feeder. In 12 of the markets there was no difference in rates between
ports, the exceptions were the Middle East and the Eastern
Mediterranean.