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Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
1/9/2009
Rail News: Rail Industry Trends
'Port Tracker' report: U.S. container volume falls to lowest annual level since 2004
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In 2008, container volume at major U.S. ports totaled an estimated 15.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 7.1 percent decline compared with 2007’s total and the lowest annual volume since 2004’s 14 million TEUs, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) and IHS Global Insight’s monthly “Port Tracker” report.
"2008 was a slow year for the ports for the simple reason that it was a slow year for retail sales," said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold in a prepared statement. "We don't expect a significant increase in traffic at the ports until retail sales return to normal levels, and even then retailers will be careful not to over-stock."
In December, container volume totaled an estimated 1.2 million TEUs, down 6.4 percent compared with December 2007’s total — the 17th-straight month-over-month decline. The last increase (3.4 percent) was achieved in July 2007, when 1.44 million TEUs moved through the ports.
Port Tracker projects January volume to total 1.16 million TEUs, which would represent a 6.3 percent decrease from January 2008’s total. February is forecasted at 1.1 million TEUs, down 11.1 percent. However, volume is expected to reach 1.17 million TEUs in March, rising 1.1 percent, then total 1.23 million TEUs in April, falling 2.6 percent. May is forecasted at 1.25 million TEUs, representing a 4 percent year-over-year drop.
Port Tracker monitors volume at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, Calif.; Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.; Houston; New York/New Jersey; Hampton Roads, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; and Savannah, Ga.
"2008 was a slow year for the ports for the simple reason that it was a slow year for retail sales," said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold in a prepared statement. "We don't expect a significant increase in traffic at the ports until retail sales return to normal levels, and even then retailers will be careful not to over-stock."
In December, container volume totaled an estimated 1.2 million TEUs, down 6.4 percent compared with December 2007’s total — the 17th-straight month-over-month decline. The last increase (3.4 percent) was achieved in July 2007, when 1.44 million TEUs moved through the ports.
Port Tracker projects January volume to total 1.16 million TEUs, which would represent a 6.3 percent decrease from January 2008’s total. February is forecasted at 1.1 million TEUs, down 11.1 percent. However, volume is expected to reach 1.17 million TEUs in March, rising 1.1 percent, then total 1.23 million TEUs in April, falling 2.6 percent. May is forecasted at 1.25 million TEUs, representing a 4 percent year-over-year drop.
Port Tracker monitors volume at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, Calif.; Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.; Houston; New York/New Jersey; Hampton Roads, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; and Savannah, Ga.
