Import containers flourish as 2022 set to be another ‘bumper year’ for carriers!

The year-to-date volume of containers imported through the first

the same point of 2021.

The figures come as the National Retail Federation (NRF) projects a 2.6

increase over last year driven by a stronger East Coast.

According to the latest data from the NRF’s Global Port Tracker, the total

volume of loaded imports at major US ports between March and April 2022 has

climbed by 6 per cent year-on-year to 2.56 million TEU – although this

represents a 2.4 per cent decrease from March.

The Global Port Tracker, produced with Hackett Associates, provides

historical data and forecasts for key US ports on both East and West Coast.

The combined loaded import volume at the monitored West Coast ports

decreased by 86,000 TEU between March and April, which equates to a 6.3 per cent

slide. The total loaded import volume was 1.27 million TEU, or a 0.9 per cent

decrease from the same month of last year.

The year-to-date loaded volume imported through the first four months of

2022 totalled 5.01 million TEU for a 0.3 per cent gain versus 2021.

On the West Coast, the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert recorded

increases over March, whilst the ports of Los Angeles, Oakland and the Northwest

Seaport Alliance posted year-on-year declines. Loaded imports in 2022 are

projected to increase by 1.0 per cent over 2021 with a total of 15.2 million

TEU.

The combined loaded import volume at NRF-monitored East Coast ports

increased by 13,000 TEU between March and April, equal to a 1.1 per cent

gain.

The coast registered an all-time high in loaded import volume reaching 1.13

million TEU – a 12.2 per cent surge over the same month of 2021. The

year-to-date volume imported through the first four months of 2022 totals 4.33

million TEU for a 9.6 per cent increase year-on-year.

Growth over March was recorded at the ports of Montreal, Charleston,

Savannah, Jacksonville, and Port Everglades. Loaded imports in 2022 are

projected to increase by 3.6 per cent over 2021 with a total of 12.8 million

TEU.

“The impact of the economic slowdown on trade has yet to be felt as

consumers are taking advantage of higher wages, increased employment and savings

built up during the pandemic, all of which support strong demand for consumer

goods”, says the NRF report.

“This is reflected in our current projections of a 2.6 per cent growth rate

for import container volumes for 2022, pushed mainly by a stronger East

Coast.

“We do see the beginnings of a decline in the growth rate of imports in the

second half of the year as the economy responds to the anti-inflation policy

measures.

“Despite this, we expect to see continued shipping capacity constraints and

a likelihood of a recovery in freight rates from their recent declines. 2022

will be another bumper year for carriers, terminals and ports as the uptick in

volumes from China is felt.”