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Container imports are anticipated to turn positive in the second quarter (April-June), improving from 0 point in the first quarter (January-March), according to NX Logistics Research Institute and Consulting.
The freight movement indices were, meanwhile, all negative for container exports, airfreight exports and imports. They are all expected to stay negative in the second quarter.
The Tokyo-based think tank, a subsidiary of the Nippon Express (NX), conducted a survey in early March among 2,500 major manufacturers and wholesalers, having responses from 661 for a response rate of 26.4%. To calculate freight movement indices, it subtracted the percentage of respondents who anticipated growth in the service from the percentage of those who anticipated negative growth.
In the first quarter, the index for container exports was -1 point, although it improved from -9 points in the previous quarter. By destination, the indices all raised for exports to other Asian economies, North America and Europe from -9 points to -4 points, from -13 points to -3 points and from -11 points to -8 points, respectively.
The index for container imports was 0 point, which also increased from -9 points. By origin, imports from other Asian economies, North America and Europe all picked up from -9 points to 0 point, from -3 points to -7 points and from -13 points to -8 points.
The indices were -4 points for airfreight exports and -9 points for imports, both of which hiked from -11 points and -15 points, respectively.
For the second quarter, NX Logistics Research Institute and Consulting foresees the indices will remain unchanged at -1 point for container exports and increased to 1 point for container imports. In contrast, airfreight exports and imports are both forecast to worsen from the first quarter to -7 points and -10 points, respectively.
