Brighter picture at US ports
Statistics show double-digit increases into the summer
Volumes handled by major US container ports are expected to jump by 13% year-on-year in March, according to the latest estimates from the Global Port Tracker Report.
The report, produced by Hackett Associates for the National Retail Federation (NRF), also predicts that double-digit volume increases will continue into the summer, thanks to improvements in the US economy.
NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold, said: “These numbers show that retailers continue to anticipate improvements in the US economy.
“This is very different from the past two years, when merchants were continually cutting their imports in an effort to manage inventory.”
In January, US ports handled 1.08m teu, down 1% on December but up 2% on January last year, and volumes in February are estimated also at 1.08m teu, but this is up 29% on the low numbers in February last year,
March volumes are expected to reach 1.09m teu, up 13% on last year, and April is forecast at 1.17m teu, up 19%.
Volumes for the first half of 2010 are expected to total 6.9m teu, a 17% increase on last year.
The report, produced by Hackett Associates for the National Retail Federation (NRF), also predicts that double-digit volume increases will continue into the summer, thanks to improvements in the US economy.
NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold, said: “These numbers show that retailers continue to anticipate improvements in the US economy.
“This is very different from the past two years, when merchants were continually cutting their imports in an effort to manage inventory.”
In January, US ports handled 1.08m teu, down 1% on December but up 2% on January last year, and volumes in February are estimated also at 1.08m teu, but this is up 29% on the low numbers in February last year,
March volumes are expected to reach 1.09m teu, up 13% on last year, and April is forecast at 1.17m teu, up 19%.
Volumes for the first half of 2010 are expected to total 6.9m teu, a 17% increase on last year.
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