Wednesday, August 15, 2012

U.S. retail import volume at ports projected to increase 6.3 percent this month

Imported containerized cargo volume for retail products at major U.S. container ports is expected to increase 6.3 percent in August over the same period last year, according to an industry report.

“These numbers all show significant increases for the months when retailers will be bringing merchandise into the country for the crucial holiday season, and we’re also expecting an increase for the full year,” National Retail Federation Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold in a statement over the latest release of the monthly Global Port Tracker report, a partnership between the NRF and Hackett Associates.

“Actual sales will depend on how consumers react to employment levels and other indicators, but retailers are clearly stocking up and hoping for a stronger fall and winter than they saw last year,” said Gold.

The U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.41 million TEUs in June, a 4.7 percent increase from May and a 10.7 percent increase over June 2011, according to the report.

July’s estimate is at 1.39 million TEUs, up 2.6 percent from the same month last year, with August forecast at 1.44 million TEUs, up 6.3 percent; September at 1.46 million TEUs, up 7.3 percent; October at 1.47 million TEUs, up 13.2 percent; November at 1.3 million TEUs, up 2.4 percent; and December at 1.23 million TEUs, up 2.4 percent, the report said.

The first half of 2012 totaled 7.6 million TEUs, up 3.8 percent from the same period last year, as the full year is expected to total 15.9 million TEUs, up 4.8 percent from 2011, according to the Port Tracker.

“Indicators are mixed, and analysts are getting nervous and expecting the U.S. consumer to retrench and reduce consumption,” said Ben Hackett of Hackett Associates. “But we continue to believe that trade will not weaken as much as expected by others,” he said.

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