In January, US container imports surged by 7.9% compared to December 2023, reaching a total of 2.27 million TEUs, as indicated in the latest Global Shipping Report by Descartes Systems Group, says an article published on container news website.
Summary
- In January, US container imports surged by 7.9% compared to December 2023, totaling 2.27 million TEUs.
- This figure also reflects a 9.9% increase from January 2023 and a 9.6% rise from pre-pandemic levels in January 2019.
- Among the top 10 ports, import volumes saw a substantial uptick of 149,906 TEUs, marking an 8.4% increase from the previous month.
- Major ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Tacoma experienced noteworthy increases in throughput, while ports like Houston and Charleston witnessed declines in import volumes.
- Imports from the top 10 countries also saw a substantial increase of 9.6%, totaling 146,240 TEUs.
Robust Growth
In January, US container imports experienced a significant surge, rising by 7.9% compared to December 2023, totaling 2.27 million TEUs. These figures, reported in the latest Global Shipping Report by Descartes Systems Group, also reflect a notable 9.9% increase from January 2023 and a solid 9.6% rise from pre-pandemic levels in January 2019.
Port Activity
Among the top 10 ports, import volumes saw a substantial uptick of 149,906 TEUs, marking an 8.4% increase from the previous month. These ports collectively accounted for 85.4% of import share, up by 0.9% compared to smaller ports.
Port Highlights
Major ports like Los Angeles (21.1% increase or 77,085 TEUs), Long Beach (15.1% increase or 48,054 TEUs), and Tacoma (12.2% increase or 5,831 TEUs) experienced noteworthy increases in throughput. However, ports like Houston (3.6% decrease or 6,042 TEUs) and Charleston (4.1% decrease or 4,331 TEUs) witnessed declines in import volumes.
Country Of Origin
Imports from the top 10 countries also saw a substantial increase of 9.6%, totaling 146,240 TEUs. China recorded the highest surge, adding 117,084 TEUs, while Germany experienced the most significant decrease, with a reduction of 2,851 TEUs.
China’s Dominance
China’s share of total US container imports stood at 39.8%, representing a 2.4% increase from the previous month. Despite this uptick, imports from China were still lower by 1.7% compared to their peak in February 2022. Nevertheless, these figures mark the highest percentage of US imports from China in the past two years.
Conclusion
The surge in US container imports in January reflects robust economic activity and trade resilience, with major ports experiencing notable increases in throughput. Despite fluctuations in import volumes from different countries, China remains a dominant player in US container imports, signaling continued reliance on Chinese manufacturing and trade relations.
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Source: container news
