Transpacific box trade is forecast to rise by 5pc in 2015: Clarksons
Time：2015-12-23
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Port congestion on the US west coast in early 2015 due to the dockworker dispute that was resolved at the end of February drove down box throughput at major west coast ports by five per cent in the first quarter year on year.
The severe congestion prompted cargo to be diverted to the major US east and Gulf Coast ports, where throughput surged 14 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2014.
Overall, US box imports from Asia, which make up most of the eastbound transpacific trade, and were estimated to have increased nine per cent in the first quarter.
US east and Gulf Coast ports retained high throughput growth rates, reaching 12 per cent year on year in Q2-Q3, indicating that some of the cargo diversions continued, reported the Hellenic Shipping News.
Overall, the peak leg transpacific trade is estimated to have continued expanding at a rate of five per cent in Q2-Q3 against the previous year.
Looking to 2016, high US inventory levels could continue to bear down on import volumes, although the US economy is expected to continue growing steadily next year at 2.8 per cent. The peak leg transpacific trade is forecast to grow by five per cent in 2016.