Week 21: Chemical Imports Way Up; Wood/Pulp Imports Way Off

In week 21, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 24% over the same period in 2009, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. For the year-to-date, imports are up 12% over 2009.

During week 21, the biggest gainer in imports are chemicals, which are up 75% compared to a year ago. Other categories showing significant increases in imports are steel (up 41% for the week), and electronics (up 38%). Wood/pulp imports (down 30% for the week) and furniture (down 18%) are the only two categories in decline.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 21






Total Traffic Week 21 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 29, 2010 Week Ending May 29, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 12,661 10,442 21% 261,913 222,009 18% Autos and Parts 6,236 5,481 14% 119,927 100,804 19% Chemical 1,932 1,102 75% 35,463 20,104 76% Plastics and Rubbers 17,783 14,477 23% 348,527 297,690 17% Wood/Pulp 8,300 11,791 -30% 158,536 257,072 -38% Textile 18,012 15,339 17% 375,068 349,006 7% Mineral and Stone 3,914 3,218 22% 73,334 64,073 14% Steel 5,437 3,846 41% 108,353 96,432 12% Electronics 6,943 5,032 38% 134,844 107,154 26% Furniture 12,362 15,080 -18% 231,968 328,651 -29% All U.S. Imports 182,371 146,859 24% 3,522,500 3,133,080 12%






East Coast Ports Week 21 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 29, 2010 Week Ending May 29, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 6,479 5,540 17% 138,776 118,368 17% Autos and Parts 2,266 2,064 10% 43,748 36,809 19% Chemical 619 455 36% 13,769 8,137 69% Plastics and Rubbers 5,615 5,374 4% 122,659 105,098 17% Wood/Pulp 2,988 4,056 -26% 61,941 83,357 -26% Textile 6,242 6,252 0% 142,649 133,591 7% Mineral and Stone 1,610 1,457 11% 34,178 28,146 21% Steel 1,790 1,384 29% 39,584 34,599 14% Electronics 1,837 1,352 36% 37,060 27,479 35% Furniture 3,845 6,054 -36% 79,293 120,529 -34% All U.S. Imports 65,816 60,461 9% 1,376,602 1,237,483 11%






West Coast Ports Week 21 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 29, 2010 Week Ending May 29, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 5,029 3,947 27% 99,364 84,503 18% Autos and Parts 3,652 2,849 28% 69,316 56,830 22% Chemical 1,130 495 128% 18,020 9,206 96% Plastics and Rubbers 11,296 8,398 35% 208,852 178,905 17% Wood/Pulp 4,914 7,214 -32% 87,576 159,313 -45% Textile 11,005 8,484 30% 218,012 201,984 8% Mineral and Stone 1,829 1,379 33% 31,564 29,747 6% Steel 2,959 1,816 63% 53,757 45,031 19% Electronics 4,632 3,473 33% 85,093 70,114 21% Furniture 8,107 8,577 -5% 145,619 197,832 -26% All U.S. Imports 105,301 75,835 39% 1,924,391 1,686,111 14%






Gulf Coast Ports Week 21 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 29, 2010 Week Ending May 29, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 828 718 15% 16,009 12,950 24% Autos and Parts 221 207 7% 4,875 3,809 28% Chemical 157 131 20% 2,888 2,258 28% Plastics and Rubbers 569 413 38% 11,438 8,368 37% Wood/Pulp 277 350 -21% 5,454 10,656 -49% Textile 372 279 33% 7,574 6,768 12% Mineral and Stone 401 301 33% 6,296 4,738 33% Steel 536 487 10% 12,581 14,790 -15% Electronics 397 152 161% 11,211 8,062 39% Furniture 223 209 7% 4,103 4,894 -16% All U.S. Imports 8,032 6,965 15% 157,646 144,092 9%






Other Ports Week 21 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 29, 2010 Week Ending May 29, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 325 237 37% 7,764 6,188 25% Autos and Parts 97 361 -73% 1,988 3,356 -41% Chemical 26 21 24% 786 503 56% Plastics and Rubbers 303 292 4% 5,578 5,319 5% Wood/Pulp 121 171 -29% 3,565 3,746 -5% Textile 393 324 21% 6,833 6,663 3% Mineral and Stone 74 81 -9% 1,296 1,442 -10% Steel 152 159 -4% 2,431 2,012 21% Electronics 77 55 40% 1,480 1,499 -1% Furniture 187 240 -22% 2,953 5,396 -45% All U.S. Imports 3,222 3,598 -10% 63,861 65,394 -2%

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