FMC publishing container freight data

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has begun releasing Containerized Freight Statistics (CFS) data, which is submitted by ocean common carriers as mandated by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. 

The data can now be accessed on the FMC’s website, specifically through the Containerized Freight Statistics – Q1 2024 report, the agency said in a release.

This report contains raw data directly from the carriers, presented with minimal processing. It’s important to note that the Commission does not independently verify the accuracy of this data. These statistics comprise consolidated figures from a variety of shipping container sizes, including 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, along with other miscellaneous sizes, whether they are empty or laden with cargo.

The scope of these reports is limited to selected major U.S. ports and includes information from 30 designated ocean common carriers. The coverage for the first release spans January to March 2024. Future updates will be made quarterly, contributing to enhanced transparency in container trade flows and enabling better insight into trends at the port level.