News
Import cargo volume at the U.S.'s major retail container ports is staying at about the same levels as last year this summer, but is expected to resume increases in the fall, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released recently by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.28 million TEUs in May, the latest month for which numbers are available. That was up 6 percent from April and 1 percent from May 2010. It was the 18th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines.
June was estimated at 1.31 million TEUs, about eight-tenths of 1 percent down from June 2010 if the estimate holds true when final numbers become available. July is forecast at 1.36 million TEUs, which would be a 1.3 percent decrease from a year ago, and August is forecast at 1.43 million TEUs, up six-tenths of 1 percent from last year. Stronger increases are expected to return in September as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season, with volume forecast at 1.47 million TEUs, up 10 percent from last year. October is forecast at 1.53 million TEUs, up 18 percent, and November at 1.41 million TEUs, up 19 percent.
The first half of 2011 is estimated at 7.2 million TEUs, up 5 percent from the first half of 2010. Global Port Tracker said its current 6.2 percent growth forecast for 2011 remains realistic under the circumstances. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEUs, a 16 percent increase over 2009.
