Week 35: Import Traffic Slows at Gulf Coast Ports

In week 35, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 21% compared to the same week in 2009, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. For the year to date, overall traffic continues its pace of being up 15% over the same period in 2009.

Chemical imports remain the strongest sector, being up 120% in week 35 and up 91% for the year. Chemicals were strong for the week at West Coast ports, where traffic was up 199% over the comparable week in 2009, and in Zepol’s tracking of activity at “other ports” (i.e., any U.S. ports that are not West Coast, East Coast or Gulf Coast ports), chemicals were up 264%. Steel imports also did well for the week, being up 33% overall compared to week 35 in 2009, and up 210% at “other ports.”

Wood/pulp imports were down 40% for week 35 compared to the same week in 2009, and are down 38% for the year. All other categories tracked by Zepol are up in double digits for the year.

Geographically, the greatest increase in activity for week 35 was at “other ports,” where import traffic was up 38% compared to the same week in 2009. Traffic at East Coast ports was up 22%, and was up ports was up 21% at West Coast ports. However, traffic was down 3% at Gulf Coast ports.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 35 Total Traffic Week 35 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 13,036 11,241 16% 443,410 380,154 17% Autos and Parts 5,837 4,893 19% 211,263 173,207 22% Chemical 2,081 945 120% 62,583 32,757 91% Plastics and Rubbers 22,960 18,550 24% 641,186 543,327 18% Wood/Pulp 9,012 15,066 -40% 284,247 458,000 -38% Textile 26,809 20,810 29% 693,186 621,759 11% Mineral and Stone 4,450 4,085 9% 131,477 114,357 15% Steel 5,426 4,089 33% 192,044 153,669 25% Electronics 7,245 6,756 7% 234,199 191,764 22% Furniture 13,839 11,255 23% 450,230 398,953 13% All U.S. Imports 203,830 169,009 21% 6,298,882 5,479,047 15% East Coast Ports Week 35 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 6,522 5,555 17% 233,165 201,709 16% Autos and Parts 2,478 1,885 31% 78,531 63,095 24% Chemical 838 477 76% 25,056 14,400 74% Plastics and Rubbers 7,552 6,109 24% 222,100 188,562 18% Wood/Pulp 3,433 4,662 -26% 110,004 148,450 -26% Textile 9,679 7,531 29% 259,242 236,248 10% Mineral and Stone 2,097 1,893 11% 60,851 51,544 18% Steel 1,895 1,436 32% 69,264 55,259 25% Electronics 1,921 1,370 40% 63,783 46,488 37% Furniture 5,119 4,061 26% 161,180 146,132 10% All U.S. Imports 77,610 63,715 22% 2,431,900 2,136,614 14% West Coast Ports Week 35 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 5,307 4,636 14% 171,149 145,435 18% Autos and Parts 2,930 2,600 13% 120,932 97,632 24% Chemical 1,039 347 199% 31,201 13,747 127% Plastics and Rubbers 14,558 11,567 26% 389,905 330,245 18% Wood/Pulp 5,116 9,609 -47% 159,335 285,422 -44% Textile 16,284 12,603 29% 409,182 362,688 13% Mineral and Stone 1,772 1,704 4% 56,437 51,480 10% Steel 2,738 2,127 29% 94,979 75,107 26% Electronics 4,971 4,551 9% 151,625 127,920 19% Furniture 8,292 6,773 22% 274,995 240,019 15% All U.S. Imports 114,112 94,077 21% 3,482,755 2,967,970 17% Gulf Coast Ports Week 35 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 810 804 1% 27,035 22,529 20% Autos and Parts 289 269 7% 8,308 6,441 29% Chemical 153 107 43% 5,057 3,719 36% Plastics and Rubbers 538 631 -15% 19,435 15,133 28% Wood/Pulp 283 666 -58% 9,412 17,676 -47% Textile 438 412 6% 12,519 11,662 7% Mineral and Stone 500 428 17% 11,927 8,876 34% Steel 542 445 22% 22,960 19,807 16% Electronics 259 770 -66% 16,261 14,677 11% Furniture 181 269 -33% 7,238 6,017 20% All U.S. Imports 8,107 8,318 -3% 275,238 241,999 14% Other Ports Week 35 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 Week Ending Sep 4, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 397 246 61% 12,061 10,481 15% Autos and Parts 140 139 1% 3,492 6,039 -42% Chemical 51 14 264% 1,269 891 42% Plastics and Rubbers 312 243 28% 9,746 9,387 4% Wood/Pulp 180 129 40% 5,496 6,452 -15% Textile 408 264 55% 12,243 11,161 10% Mineral and Stone 81 60 35% 2,271 2,457 -8% Steel 251 81 210% 4,841 3,496 38% Electronics 94 65 45% 2,530 2,679 -6% Furniture 247 152 63% 6,497 6,785 -4% All U.S. Imports 4,001 2,899 38% 108,989 132,464 -18%

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