Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is staying at about the same levels as last year this summer, but is expected to resume increases in the fall, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
"With the economy facing continuing challenges, retailers are managing their inventory levels carefully," said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold. "But the increases in import volume expected this fall are a clear sign that retailers are confident consumer demand will be there in the fourth quarter."
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.28 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in May, the latest month for which numbers are available. That was up 6% from April and 1% from May 2010. It was the 18th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.
June was estimated at 1.31 million TEU, about eight-tenths of 1% down from June 2010 if the estimate holds true when final numbers become available. July is forecast at 1.36 million TEU, which would be a 1.3% decrease from a year ago, and August is forecast at 1.43 million TEU, up 0.6% from last year.
Stronger increases are expected to return in September as retailers begin to stock up for the holiday season, with volume forecast at 1.47 million TEU, up 10 percent from last year. October is forecast at 1.53 million TEU, up 18 %, and November at 1.41 million TEU, up 19%.
The first half of 2011 is estimated at 7.2 million TEU, up 5% from the first half of 2010. Global Port Tracker has been consistently accurate in its projections of a sharp slowdown from the growth rates of last year, and the current 6.2% growth to 15.7 million TEU forecast for 2011 remains realistic under the circumstances. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16% increase over 2009.
"The low level of inventories-to-sales ratios suggest that import container flows will continue at their suppressed levels for the summer," Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. "On the bright side, there will be no imminent boom or bust in volumes as we experienced in 2007 and 2010."
Retail Container Traffic Remains Flat; Upturn Expected
Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is staying at about the same levels as last year this summer, but is expected to resume increases in the fall, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates
More Fleet Management
'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis on the Growing Need to Replace Old Trucks
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.
Read More →
Truckstop.com Adding to Open Deck, Heavy Haul Offerings
Load matching for flatbed, lowbed, oversize and overweight loads can't be automated like basic van freight, but Truckstop.com is adding more high-tech tools to help.
Read More →
Trucker Path, Truckstop.com Expand Load Access Partnership
An expanded Trucker Path and Truckstop.com integration brings more freight opportunities into the TruckLoads app while emphasizing security and network quality.
Read More →
Truckload Rates Hit Two-Year Highs as Diesel Costs Surge, DAT Says
Strong March freight demand combined with a spike in fuel costs pushed both spot and contract truckload rates to their highest levels in more than two years.
Read More →
The AI Conversation You Need to Have with Your TMS Provider
Everyone’s talking about AI — but is your transportation management system actually built for it?
Read More →
Kriska Buys Fellow Canadian Carrier Sharp Transportation Systems
Being part of KTG will allow Sharp to expand and improve its services.
Read More →
Bill in House Would Raise Minimum Insurance for Motor Carriers to $5 Million
The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act would increase insurance requirements for interstate motor carriers by nearly seven times.
Read More →
FTR Trucking Conditions Index Hits Four-Year High in February
Strong freight rates push TCI to 10.2, but FTR expects fuel-price volatility to skew March results.
Read More →
C.H. Robinson Offers Carriers Relief as Diesel Prices Surge
C.H. Robinson is waiving fees on fuel cards and cash advances for April and May, aiming to help carriers offset rising diesel costs tied to geopolitical instability.
Read More →