News
Container trade between Asia and the U.S. was sluggish in June 2011, according to the Japan Maritime Center (JMC).
Eastbound shipments from 18 Asian countries and regions to the U.S. decreased 3.7% from a year earlier to 1.116 million TEUs, as furniture, garments, home appliance and other major commodities diminished due to a decline in consumer spending in the U.S.
Westbound containers were also stagnant, going down 1.3% to 494,000 TEUs resulting from severe falls in animal feed and garments. It was the first time in 22 months, or since September 2009 that container movement on the trade had receded year on year in both directions.
The JMC, which compiles a preliminary report every month on container shipments on the Asia/U.S. trade from statistical data provided by PIERS of the U.S., added the June container throughput was even weaker than a month earlier.
Eastbound containers diminished 4.2% from May 2011 and westbound containers, 11.9%. In particular, containers from the U.S. to Asia fell below 500,000 TEUs for the first time in nine months, despite the fact that container trade is deemed steady when exceeding this level.
On a cumulative basis, eastbound containers amounted to 6.375 million TEUs, up 3.8% year on year from January to June, and westbound containers, 332,800 TEUs, up 8.5%.
