Container imports to increase with back-to-school merchandise

Import cargo volumes at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to increase 7.3 percent in July, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.    Import cargo volumes at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to increase 7.3 percent in July compared to July 2014 as retailers stock up for the busy back-to-school season, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
   “Now that West Coast ports have recovered from the congestion caused by the recently settled contract dispute, retailers are focused on the back-to-school season to ensure that parents can find the supplies and clothing their children need for the fall,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.
   A new five-year contract between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union was ratified in May. The previous contract expired last July.
   The dozen Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.61 million TEU in May, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 6.2 percent from April and up 8.2 percent from May 2014.
   June volume was estimated at 1.56 million TEU, up 5.5 percent from 2014. July is forecast at 1.6 million TEU, up 7.3 percent; August also at 1.6 million TEU, up 5.5 percent; September at 1.63 million TEU, up 2.4 percent; October at 1.61 million TEU, up 3.5 percent, and November at 1.5 million TEU, up 7.5 percent.
   The first half of 2015 was estimated at 8.8 million TEU, up 6.4 percent over the same period last year.
   Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said the increases in imports are in line with other improving economic indicators.
   “U.S. consumer spending recorded its largest increase in nearly six years in May, suggesting that the level of confidence about the future has improved,” said Hackett. “This is very positive news.”
   Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Houston.