TSA LINES REPORT CONTINUED GROWTH

TSA LINES REPORT CONTINUED GROWTH    Member carriers of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said container volumes continue to show strong results into the traditional Asia-to-U.S. peak season.
   In July, TSA's 14 member lines reported average weekly combined lift of 77,000 FEUs, with sailings to all U.S. ports fully booked. For the same period in 2001, carriers moved fewer than 62,000 FEUS a week, the TSA said.
   The discussion agreement said demand has continued into August and that forward bookings suggest an extension of current volumes through September.
   Through the first half of 2002, TSA member lines handled nearly 1.9 million FEUs of U.S. imported goods from Asia, a 17.5-percent increase over the first half of 2001. The greatest increases were seen in department store merchandise (up 55.2 percent), furniture (up 41.2 percent), bicycles (36.1 percent), tires (34.3 percent), handicrafts and brassware (30.4 percent), fabrics and yarn (29.8 percent), non-electric tools (26.9 percent) and hardware (24.0 percent).
   The TSA attributed the market growth to continued strong consumer spending, fueled by low interest rates and refinancing of home mortgages, as well as a diversion of travel spending to home improvements and recreation following Sept. 11. Forecasts of healthy back-to-school and holiday shopping added to the mix, member carriers said.
   TSA member lines are APL, CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, 'K' Line, Maersk Sealand, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, N.Y.K. Line, OOCL, P&O Nedlloyd and Yangming.