Cargo Business Newswire

Monday, January 13, 2014

Top Story

NRF on retail imports: 2013 up 2.8 percent overall, January 2014 up 4.8 percent

Import volume at the top retail container ports is the U.S. went up 2.8 percent for 2013 year-over-year, and January 2014 import numbers will surge 4.8 percent, according to estimates released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

"Retailers are still assessing the holiday season, but they're also looking ahead to see what will happen in the New Year," said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy. "Based on these early numbers, 2014 looks like it should be off to a good start."

U.S. ports followed by monthly Global Port Tracker publication handled 1.37 million TEUs in November, up 6.5 percent compared to November 2012. December estimates indicate 5 percent increase at 1.35 million TEUs. If that estimate is proven once final figures for the holiday season can be accessed, 2013 will have totaled 16.3 million TEUs, up 2.8 percent from 2012's 15.8 billion TEUs.

The early numbers come as retailers are waiting on final sales for the 2013 holiday season, which NRF forecast would grow 3.9 percent to $602.1 billion.

January 2014 is forecast to be up 4.8 percent year-over-year at 1.37 million TEUs, February down 7.5 percent at 1.18 million TEUs, March up 15.9 percent at 1.32 million TEUs, April up 7.7 percent at 1.4 million TEUs, and May up 4.6 percent at 1.46 million TEUs.

"The new year looks to be stronger than the outgoing one, with better-than-expected GDP figures, lower unemployment rates and continued low inflation," noted Ben Hackett, Hackett Associates founder. "Expectations of a stronger dollar will also help to increase consumer confidence as import prices continue to fall."

Global Port Tracker covers the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Houston.