News
With tariff increases delayed for the foreseeable future and the busy summer season approaching, imports at the U.S.'s major retail container ports are beginning to climb again, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation.
U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.62 million TEUs in February, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 14.3 percent from January and down 4 percent year-over-year. February is traditionally the slowest month of the year because of Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in Asia and the lull between retailers' holiday and summer seasons.
March was estimated at 1.63 million TEUs, up 5.9 percent year-over-year. April is forecast at 1.75 million TEUs, up 6.9 percent; May at 1.9 million TEUs, up 4 percent; June at 1.89 million TEUs, up 2 percent; July at 1.96 million TEUs, up 2.9 percent, and August at 1.97 million TEUs, up 4.3 percent. The August number would be the highest since the record 2 million TEUs set last October as retailers brought holiday merchandise into the country ahead of expected tariff increases.
Imports during the first half of 2019 is expected to total 10.7 million TEUs, up 3.7 percent over the first half of 2018.
