New York sees growing number of all water services

New York sees growing number of all water services    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said a growing number of all-water shipping services to the region are fueling cargo growth to and from the Far East, particularly China.
   New York is now served by 16 strings a week, representing 21 carriers, the port department said in the authority's current newsletter.
   “Today’s services offer competitive transit times ranging from 22 to 30 days from Hong Kong and South China such as Yantian, and 23 to 33 days from central Chinese ports such as Shanghai and Ningbo,” the agency said.
   Three Asian countries were among the New York port’s largest trading partners in 2006. China was the region’s largest trading partner accounting for 23 percent of general cargo imports and exports as measured in tons; India was the third-largest with 6.4 percent; Japan was the sixth-largest trading partner, with 4.4 percent.
   China and Hong Kong are even more dominant in the containerized shipping segment, accounting for 32 percent of import and 23 percent of export TEUs.
   The agency noted that “the wide range of services offered at the port cement its position as the market leader for trade with China and Hong Kong on the North Atlantic range with a market share of 69 percent for imports and 61 percent for exports, with an overall market share of 67 percent, according the PIERS database.”
   Major product categories on the import side from China are furniture, bedding, plastic products, iron and steel products, machinery, toys and sporting goods.
   The agency said that on a recent marketing trip to Asia several carriers said they plan to start new services to the region in 2007.