News
Japan’s container exports to the U.S. plunged 13.3% to 41,897 TEUs in December of last year, marking a year-on-year decrease for three months in a row, according to Descartes Datamyne. The U.S. research company has said that contributing factors included blank sailings and empty container shortages.
Shipments moved directly on the route fell much more severely, plummeting 32.9% to 24,397 TEUs. In contrast, those carried via transshipment (T/S) ballooned 46.9% to 176,590 TEUs, reaching a record high. By way of South Korea were 11,178 TEUs, up 31.5%, while 2,882 TEUs were transshipped in China, up 59.5%. Taiwan was responsible for 1,513 TEUs, which improved a remarkable 160.9%.
In 2021, a total of 584,366 TEUs were transported from Japan to the U.S., rebounding from the previous year and increased 10%. However, throughput failed to cross the 600,000-TEU line for two straight years. Direct shipments accounted for 409,974 TEUs, down 2.2%. On the other hand, those transshipped in third countries and regions jumped 40.4% to 186,110 TEUs, a new yearly record. T/S containers swelled to hold a share of 31.8% of the total. Containers transshipped in South Korea, China and Taiwan all marked double-digit rises, surging 44% to 128,722 TEUs, 43.9% to 27,640 TEUs and 70.5% to 11,891 TEUs, respectively.
