US Customs: August box imports down 2.79pc, but up 2.35pc year to date

IMPORTED US containerised cargo increased in August by 8.21 per cent over July, but declined 2.79 per cent year on year, while year-to-date volume was rose 2.35 per cent year on year, according to US Customs data released by Zepol Corp, a Minneapolis consultancy.crack

Zepol data is derived from bills of lading entered into US Customs Automated Manifest System. The information represents the number of house bills entered by importers of waterborne containerised goods.


Imports from Asia hit a 2011 high in August, with shipments totalling 604,374 - a figure surpassed only once, in August 2010, according to a report in DC Velocity. China accounted for more than half of the imports in August with 320,969 shipments, an 11 per cent increase over July.


All US ports posted increases in incoming containers for August over July, Zepol said. The Pacific ports handled 901,200 TEU, the most since September 2010, the consultancy said. Mid-Atlantic ports recorded a 12 per cent rise, mainly attributable to the combined 20 per cent increase at New York and New Jersey, according to Zepol.


The data excludes shipments of empty containers as well as shipments labelled as freight remaining on board, and may contain other data anomalies. The total number of shipments rose in August 10 per cent from July, but fell 0.65 per cent from August 2010, Zepol said.crackcrack