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U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 10.5 million TEUs of containers in the first half, down 22.3% year on year. “Import container shipments have returned the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 and appear likely to stay there for a while, “ said Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, which compiles Global Port Tracker reports together with the National Retail Federation (NRF).
NRF earlier this week issued a statement calling on President Joe Biden’s administration to intervene following reports of disruptions at terminals at the ports of Oakland and Long Beach. The disruptions have come as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have failed to reach a new labor agreement after more than a year of negotiations. “If labor and management can’t reach agreement and operate smoothly and efficiently, retailers will have no choice but to continue to take their cargo to East Coast and Gulf Coast gateways, “ said Jonathan Gold, vice-president for supply chain and customs policy at the NRF.
In April, imports to the abovementioned ports amounted to 1.78 million TEUs, up 9.6% from March but down 21.3% year on year. They have not yet reported May numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.84 million TEUs, down 23%. June is forecast at 1.91 million TEUs, down 15.3%; July at 1.99 million TEUs, down 8.8%; August at 2.02 million TEUs, down 10.5%; September at 1.95 million TEUs, down 4%; and October at 1.95 million TEUs, down 2.7%.
Global Port Tracker has not yet forecast the full year, but the third quarter is expected to total 5.97 million TEUs, down 7.9%, and the first nine months of the year should total 16.48 million TEUs, down 17.6%.
