Hackett Associates

Amid various supply chain issues, United States retail container ports are expected to see imports top the 2-million mark in May for the first time since October, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

There’s safety in numbers and in cooperation. That’s what three major worldwide heavy truck manufacturers seem to be saying in getting ready for vehicle electrification. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Volvo Trucks North America, Navistar and Daimler Truck North America are trying to reduce transportation's carbon footprint by taking a collective approach.

Retailers have generally navigated around the Red Sea cargo disruptions, but trade groups said costs will begin to rise even as they project a growth in imports.

For calendar year 2023, total U.S.-bound retail container imports, at 22.3 million TEU, were down 12.8% compared to 2022.  The report observed that this was in line with expectations, adding that the shift to growth in its forecast is intact.

Major U.S. container ports are entering a period of historically low cargo volumes as the holiday season winds down. However, attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and continued delays at the Panama Canal may shake up this year’s usual winter lull.

United States-bound retail container import volumes appear to be trending in the right direction, with monthly volumes pegged to be around 2 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) in September, for the second consecutive month.

For June, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker reported that import volumes, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.83 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking a 5.2% gain decrease compared to May and an 18.7% annual decline. For the first half of 2023, total imports came in at 10.5 million TEU, down 22% compared to the same period a year ago.

For May, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker reported that import volumes, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.93 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking an 8.5% gain over April and a 19.3% annual decline.

For April, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker observed that import volumes, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.78 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), which marked a 9.6% gain over March’s 1.62 million TEU— the lowest volume in a month going back to May 2020’s 1.53 million TEU, when several Asian-based factories and U.S.-based stores were closed because of the pandemic—and a 21.3% annual decline.

For March, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker noted that import volumes, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.62 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking a 5% gain over February—which saw its lowest volume in a month going back to May 2020’s 1.53 million TEU, when several Asian-based factories and U.S.-based stores were closed because of the pandemic—while posting a 30.6% annual decline. This tally trailed a previous March estimate, of 1.68...

United States-bound import volumes are pegged to see gains through the summer months, albeit at below levels seen during the pandemic, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, Port Tracker noted that import volumes, for the ports covered in the report, came in at 1.81 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), for a 4.4% increase compared to December and a 16.5% annual decrease.

A pairing of ongoing economic uncertainty and lower import volumes were the key themes in the new edition of the Port Tracker report, which was issued by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume—at 2 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—was off 1.3% compared to September and was off 9.3% annually.

For July, the most recent month for which data is available, import volume—at 2.18 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—was 3.1% below June and off 0.4% annually, marking the third annual decline in the last two years (through July) and for the first time since December 2021.