News
U.S. container imports from 10 major Asian countries and regions ballooned 28.1% year on year to 1.52 million TEUs in January (based on volumes at ports of origin), according to statistics compiled by Descartes Datamyne from Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and bill-of-lading (B/L) data provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They came back from a huge decline in January 2023 and were still higher by 23% than the corresponding month of 2019. Overall imports to the U.S. amounted to 2.14 million TEUs, up 23%.
By origin, imports from China surged 27.9% to 859,884 TEUs, holding the largest share of the pie. Ranked second were those from South Korea, which soared 22.7% to 173,806 TEUs. Those from Vietnam jumped 54.2% to 159,397 TEUs, finishing in third place. In fourth place, containers from Singapore increased 44.7% to 80,229 TEUs. At the bottom of the top five were those from Taiwan, which picked up 2.8% to 66,772 TEUs. Imports from Japan came in eighth place, hiking 15.9% to 37,158 TEUs.
By commodity, major import commodities increased across the board. Accounting for the largest part, furniture (HS94) expanded 33.2% to 270,941 TEUs. Machinery (HS84) grew 21.2% to 160,618 TEUs; plastics and articles thereof (HS39), 55.5% to 153,059 TEUs; electronic and electrical equipment (HS85); 25.9% to 136,185 TEUs; and car products (HS87), 32.9% to 91,550 TEUs.
