1st half import box volume forecast to rise 8%

   Import cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports is expected to rise 9 percent in April over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
   'These numbers are an indication that the economy is recovering and retailers are expecting continued increases in sales through the summer and beyond,' said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. 'There are challenges ahead from rising prices for gasoline and other essentials, but inventories are under control and retailers are optimistic.'
   U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.1 million TEUs in February, traditionally the slowest month of the year and the latest for which actual numbers are available. That was down 8 percent from January but up 10 percent from February 2010. It was the 15th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines.

Gold

   Monthly forecasts through August are:
   ' March estimated at 1.2 million TEUs, an 11 percent increase over March 2010.
   ' April, 1.24 million TEUs, up 9 percent from a year ago.
   ' May, 1.32 million TEUs, up 4 percent.
   ' June, 1.38 million TEUs, up 5 percent.
   ' July, 1.45 million TEUs, up 5 percent.
   ' August, 1.54 million TEUs, up 8 percent.

Hackett

The first half of 2011 is forecast at 7.4 million TEUs, up 8 percent from the first half of 2010. For the full year, 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEUs, a 16 percent increase over 2009. Last year's percentages were high because 2009's 12.7 million TEU was the lowest level seen since 2003.
'The economy is slowly on the mend with many of the key short-term indicators providing positive directions,' Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. 'Consumers are buoyed by falling unemployment and are somewhat freer with their money.'

FreightWaves Staff