CTS: Prospects for container volume recovery ‘quite encouraging’

   Container Trade Statistics said that “in line with market expectations, the global containerized output contracted in November, reflecting the cyclical trough associated with the final quarter of the year.”
   CTS also said global containerized exports in November totaled was 10,384,800 TEU, down 4.72 percent from October, but these totals were 5.47-percent higher than last year. The group characterized it as “the best November performance for over two years, indicating that the prospects for a sustainable container volume recovery remain quite encouraging.”
   CTS added:
  • Total exports from Asia (including intra-Asia) to all overseas markets monitored by CTS went up by 6.23 percent to 5,795,200 TEU from November last year, maintaining their growth for the seventh consecutive month. Exports to Australasia and Oceania showed the largest increase, followed by exports to the Europe. Exports to North America remained relatively flat, while exports to the India Subcontinent and the Middle East, South and Central America, and Sub Saharan Africa went on the decline. In the opposite direction, containerized imports from all overseas markets into Asia (including intra-regional cargo) also gained traction. November figures show that total imports went up by 10.36 percent to 4,159,000 TEU, compared to a year earlier, displaying positive growth for a fourth consecutive month.
  • Total exports from North America (including intra-North America) maintained their positive momentum for a fifth month in a row. These went up by 7.1 percent to 1,233,300 TEU from a year ago. Containerized exports to Asia displayed the largest increase, followed by exports to Europe, although exports to all other markets showed negative growth. In the opposite direction, containerized imports into North America (including intra-regional cargo) remained relatively flat, mainly due to inflationary pressures, which have hit a new high since September. Total volumes grew by a marginal 2.03 percent to 1,736,200 TEU from a year earlier, as consumers continue to keep a tight hold on their money with reports that U.S. retail sales continue to slip.
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Chris Dupin

Chris Dupin has written about trade and transportation and other business subjects for a variety of publications before joining American Shipper and Freightwaves.