Major US container ports handled 1.32 million TEU in July, down 4pc

CONTAINERISED import volume through major US ports was four per cent down year on year to 1.32 million TEU in July, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

But the report also said year-on-year growth will come in September with an estimated increase of 11.8 per cent at 1.5 million TEU. October is projected at 1.48 million TEU, up 9.5 per cent; November at 1.33 million TEU, up eight per cent; and December at 1.2 million TEU, up 4.5 per cent.


The report said July was the second consecutive month posting a year-on-year decline, but it expected August to remain "flat" at an estimated 1.42 million TEU.


"The numbers are a skewed comparison against higher-than-normal numbers last summer, when fears of shortages in shipping capacity caused many retailers to bring holiday merchandise into the country earlier than usual," said the report.


Said retail federation vice president Jonathan Gold: "This year, retailers have the luxury of importing holiday goods later than last year, which better ensures their inventory levels will accurately meet consumer demand."


But January 2012 is forecast at 1.19 million TEU, down one per cent from January this year.


In the end, the total cargo volume for 2011 is estimated to grow 1.3 per cent year on year at 15.4 million TEU.


Considering the seasonal reason and continuing economic slowdown, Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett warned that it is likely to see a decline in cargo volume next year.


He said the relatively strong import volumes of August and September only reflected the fact of "the low levels of inventory that needed to be raised to meet the return-to-school and post-Thanksgiving sales".


So he believed the third quarter will be positive for container carriers and retailers "but that will turn into negative growth for the next two to three quarters thereafter." crack