18.09.12Asia-U.S. Box Trade Makes Fractional Growth in August

U.S. research company Descartes DataMyne unveiled on Sept. 10 that a total of 1,456,040 TEUs of containers were exported to the U.S. from 10 Asian countries and regions in August. Although remaining nearly unchanged from a year earlier, just growing a minute 0.6%, the trade route posted a year-on-year improvement for 18 consecutive months. In the first eight months (January-August), throughput increased 6.1% to a record high of 10,794,978 TEUs

Looking at August container movement more closely by origin, containers from China fell 2.2% to 911,354 TEUs, accounting for some 70% of the pie. Although a new monthly record was set in August, too, China’s exports to the U.S. declined due partly to Washington’s tariff hikes against Beijing. Containers from other countries and regions were generally favorable. Those from South Korea went up 6.7% to 142,175 TEUs, and from Taiwan, up 7% to 79,276 TEUs. Vietnam’s exports were more brisk, surging 18.8% to 77,579 TEUs, enjoying a year-on-year rise for 18 months in a row. Containers from Japan were sluggish, diminishing 8.6% to 43,696 TEUs. Including transshipment (T/S) containers that it accepted, its exports enlarged, increasing 1.4% to 57,649 TEUs.