News
The combined volume of containerized shipments moved by major shipping companies among 13 countries and regions in Asia declined 16.4% from a year earlier to 855,000 TEUs in February, incurring a year-on-year decrease for two months in a row. Dry and reefer containers both suffered double-digit contractions, falling 16.2% to 808,000 TEUs and 19.3% to 47,000 TEUs, respectively. Overall container throughput on the intra-Asia trade route plunged on an accumulated basis as well, sinking 15% to 1.88 million TEUs in total in the first two months (January-February).
Imports to and exports from Japan both plummeted notably in February, with the former shrinking 18% to 106,000 TEUs and the latter, 22.7% to 141,000 TEUs. Looking at containers destined to Japan by origin, those from northern China went down 35.9% to 17,000 TEUs; from central China, down 15.9% to 27,000 TEUs; from Fujian Province, down 3.6% to 9,000 TEUs and from southern China, down 14.9% to 20,000 TEUs. As for imports from other economies, those from Malaysia improved 0.8% to 6,000 TEUs. In contrast, those from Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand all slid, going down 0.9% to 13,000 TEUs, down 36.4% to 5,000 TEUs, down 11% to 8,000 TEUs and down 30.8% to 11,000 TEUs, respectively.
As for exports from Japan, meanwhile, those to northern China went down 23.1% to 14,000 TEUs; to central China, down 37.6% to 10,000 TEUs and to southern China, down 7.6% to 9,000 TEUs. On the other hand, those to Fujian improved 2.6% to 1,000 TEUs. Containers bound for Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia all sank significantly, which were down 31.3% to 5,000 TEUs, 21.7% to 11,000 TEUs and 34% to 5,000 TEUs, respectively. Exports to Vietnam nearly remained unchanged, sinking a minute 0.1% to 9,000 TEUs. In contrast, those to Taiwan jumped 22.3% to 17,000 TEUs and to Cambodia, 25.3% to 300 TEUs.
