News
Major shipping line moved a total of 1,177,304 TEUs of containers among 13 countries and regions in Asia in January, which grew 2.4% from a year earlier and enjoyed a year-on-year increase for the seventh consecutive month.
Exports from Japan to the 12 others plunged 13.9% to 111,000 TEUs, incurring a year-on-year fall for four months in a row. Japan refrained from exporting much cargo, as this year, Lunar New Year fell in early February, earlier than 2015, when it came in late February. In contrast, imports to Japan from the 12 were brisk, improving 1.7% to 183,000 TEUs and registering growth for seven straight months. Imports from China increased before Lunar New Year.
Containers from Japan to partners in East Asia suffered double-digit contractions across the board, with those to China plunging 20% to 38,000 TEUs. Those to Hong Kong and Taiwan were also weak, which went down 13.4% to 9,400 TEUs and 14% to 14,000 TEUs, respectively.
As for exports to Southeast Asia, those to Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore registered double-digit falls, diminishing 13.6% to 6,300 TEUs; 12.7% to 12,000 TEUs; and 27% to 2,300 TEUs, respectively. Those to the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia were also sluggish, which declined 4.7 to 3,100 TEUs, 7% to 6,500 TEUs; and 7.7% to 6,500 TEUs.
Looking at imports of containers to Japan from the 12 countries and regions, those from China hiked 6% to 90,000 TEUs. Those from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia were massive, too, which rose 42% to 6,500 TEUs, 3.2% to 11,000 TEUs; and 2.7% to 10,000 TEUs, respectively. On the other hand, imports from Hong Kong were down 7.5% to 8,300 TEUs; from Taiwan, 11% to 15,000 TEUs; from Thailand, 15.3% to 13,000 TEUs; from Malaysia, 10.8% to 7,300 TEUs; and from Singapore, 6.3% to 2,500 TEUs.
