In September, the Kiel Trade Indicator highlights a sideways movement in global trade after a strong August. Germany experienced a downturn with its exports at -1.8% and imports at -1.9%. The EU's exports were down by -1.2%, while the imports remained nearly stable. In contrast, the US showed positive signs with exports at +0.4% and imports at +0.2%. China's exports increased slightly at +0.5%, but imports dipped by -0.8%. An encouraging trend for shippers is the significant reduction in freight rates, especially on the transatlantic route.