March import shipment totals should provide a lot of hope to transportation service providers and importers as the number of import shipments was up nearly 10% from March 2009, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. Year-to-date total shipments are up 11% when compared to 2009. However, caution should be taken as the first quarter of 2009 was historically poor.
It is interesting to review how well specific port regions compare against each other for particular market baskets. For example, year to date mineral and stone imports are up 25% to East Coast ports, but only 5% for West Coast ports.
Nearly every category was up for the last week of March and year to date. Autos and parts along with chemicals are making strong showings. However, housing related products continue to struggle.
Click here to view the methods used to calculate each industry’s Market Basket and see what they include.
| Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports | ||||||
| Total Traffic | Week 13 | Cumulative Year to Date | ||||
| Week Ending Apr 3, 2010 | Week Ending Apr 3, 2010 | |||||
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change | |
| Food and Beverage | 12,911 | 12,048 | 7% | 158,068 | 135,244 | 17% |
| Autos and Parts | 6,058 | 4,726 | 28% | 71,817 | 58,233 | 23% |
| Chemical | 1,560 | 931 | 68% | 20,976 | 11,520 | 82% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 15,740 | 14,332 | 10% | 210,999 | 179,427 | 18% |
| Wood/Pulp | 6,792 | 12,018 | -43% | 95,206 | 156,676 | -39% |
| Textile | 16,202 | 16,904 | -4% | 233,899 | 221,178 | 6% |
| Mineral and Stone | 3,261 | 3,112 | 5% | 44,311 | 38,524 | 15% |
| Steel | 5,682 | 4,475 | 27% | 63,771 | 61,681 | 3% |
| Electronics | 6,187 | 5,109 | 21% | 78,621 | 64,100 | 23% |
| Furniture | 9,726 | 15,408 | -37% | 138,030 | 197,641 | -30% |
| All U.S. Imports | 161,255 | 153,064 | 5% | 2,109,361 | 1,907,015 | 11% |
