Specializing in International Freight Forwarding, by way of ocean, air, rail and truck freight-RISINGSUN

CONTAINER traffic at the top seaports in North America, which handle 90 per cent of the total volume, ended the first half of the year flat with throughput dropping in January and February year on year.

West coast seaport performance still outperformed east and Gulf coast ports, and Class I rail container traffic has continues to mirror these trends.

"The peak season may provide some stability over the next few months, but the current trends could lead to negative performance for 2016," according to a report by Seeking Alpha.

Container traffic at the top North American seaports grew by 4.5 and five per cent in 2014 and 2015 respectively. During the first two months of 2016, it appeared that this trend would continue, however, March through June witnessed consistent declines.

The ports of New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston and Houston recorded negative TEU growth during the first five months of 2016. In comparison, the collective performance of major west coast seaports, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, NSA and Oakland, was "much stronger".

The most notable positive performers continue to include the ports of Los Angeles, Virginia, Oakland, Lazaro Cardenas, Miami, Veracruz, Baltimore, Altamira, New Orleans, Halifax, Philadelphia and Boston.

First half volume growth at top North America seaports turns flat