22.02.24Japan-to-U.S. Box Trade Surges 10.3% in January

Outbound containers from Japan to the U.S. surged 10.3% in volume to 54,802 TEUs in January, registering their first year-on-year growth since September 2021, according to American research company Descartes Datamyne.

Shipments moved directly on the route fell 3.6% to 35,990 TEUs, but those transshipped in third countries and regions swelled 52.3% to a record-high 18,812 TEUs. In breakdown, 12,690 TEUs were transshipped in South Korea, up 41.5%, and 2,654 TEUs in China, up 47.6%. Those transshipped in Taiwan were even more brisk, skyrocketing 319.6% to 1,561 TEUs.

Looking at volumes at ports of origin in Japan, containers from Tokyo suffered a double-digit contraction, plunging 15.9% to 15,542 TEUs but managed to hold the leading share of the pie. In contrast, those from Nagoya increased 3.6% to 100,687 TEUs; from Kobe, 5.6% to 8,197 TEUs; and from Yokohama, 263.9% to 1,412 TEUs.