U.S. imports maintain growth in 2011

U.S. imports maintain growth in 2011    Import cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports is forecast to rise 11 percent in March over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Monday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
   U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.2 million TEUs in January, the latest month for which actual numbers are available. That was up 5 percent from December and 12 percent from January 2010. It was the 14th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines.
   February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, was estimated at 1.1 million TEUs, which a 12 percent increase over February 2010. In addition:
   ' March is forecast at 1.2 million TEUs, up 11 percent.
   ' April at 1.2 million TEUs, up 9 percent.
   ' May at 1.3 million TEUs, up 5 percent.
   ' June at 1.4 million TEUs, up 5 percent.
   ' July at 1.5 million TEU, up 5 percent.

Hackett

   The first half of 2011 is forecast at 7.5 million TEUs, up 9 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 TEUs was the lowest level seen since 2003, the report said.
   Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said recent political turmoil in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and elsewhere is driving up oil prices and will likely increase shipping costs.
   'Oil supply is going down as a number of nations have dropped out of the production cycle,' Hackett said. 'Freight rates have been decreasing but that will not last long as fuel costs are factored in.'