Week 47: Auto Imports Lead Strong Activity at U.S. Ports

In week 47, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 16% 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 has slowed somewhat; after being up 15% for most of the year, 2010 traffic is now up 14% over the same period in 2009.

Autos and parts were the strongest imports for week 47, being up 29% for the week and up 22% for the year. Steel imports also did well for the week, being up 26% overall compared to week 47 in 2009, and also up 26% for the year to date.

Mineral and stone imports were down 4% for week 47 compared to the same week in 2009, while wood and pulp were flat at 0%. All other categories tracked by Zepol were up for week 47, and wood/pulp is the only category down for the year to date (down 33%).

Geographically, the greatest increase in activity for week 47 was at the West Coast ports, where import traffic was up 19% compared to the same week in 2009. Traffic at the Gulf Coast ports was up 18%, East Coast port traffic was up 14%, traffic at all other U.S. ports was up 1%.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 47






Total Traffic Week 47 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 12,644 11,792 7% 594,599 522,145 14% Autos and Parts 6,610 5,117 29% 290,944 239,108 22% Chemical 1,737 1,485 17% 84,948 45,855 85% Plastics and Rubbers 18,692 15,470 21% 884,659 754,041 17% Wood/Pulp 7,969 7,975 0% 383,030 575,656 -33% Textile 19,093 15,616 22% 961,946 859,861 12% Mineral and Stone 3,614 3,753 -4% 175,901 159,527 10% Steel 5,441 4,335 26% 260,816 207,389 26% Electronics 6,104 5,675 8% 316,854 270,203 17% Furniture 12,649 12,280 3% 596,053 537,484 11% All U.S. Imports 178,878 153,969 16% 8,567,838 7,494,295 14%






East Coast Ports Week 47 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 7,116 6,548 9% 313,933 278,943 13% Autos and Parts 2,648 1,937 37% 110,201 86,618 27% Chemical 698 655 7% 34,571 20,319 70% Plastics and Rubbers 6,598 5,474 21% 305,349 260,749 17% Wood/Pulp 3,376 3,581 -6% 150,043 194,497 -23% Textile 7,676 6,180 24% 361,232 325,285 11% Mineral and Stone 1,651 1,888 -13% 81,468 73,291 11% Steel 1,918 1,628 18% 94,706 75,306 26% Electronics 1,554 1,395 11% 85,031 63,314 34% Furniture 4,745 4,492 6% 215,771 196,824 10% All U.S. Imports 71,106 62,595 14% 3,319,952 2,921,134 14%






West Coast Ports Week 47 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 4,501 4,377 3% 229,001 197,423 16% Autos and Parts 3,625 2,930 24% 164,468 135,877 21% Chemical 862 677 27% 41,820 19,118 119% Plastics and Rubbers 11,454 9,244 24% 540,042 459,594 18% Wood/Pulp 4,254 3,959 7% 213,393 350,603 -39% Textile 10,776 8,761 23% 567,161 502,446 13% Mineral and Stone 1,564 1,542 1% 75,499 70,219 8% Steel 2,798 2,249 24% 127,257 102,741 24% Electronics 4,270 3,863 11% 207,575 179,731 15% Furniture 7,488 7,364 2% 361,561 322,990 12% All U.S. Imports 97,376 82,123 19% 4,727,239 4,069,578 16%






Gulf Coast Ports Week 47 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 668 543 23% 36,166 31,019 17% Autos and Parts 227 173 31% 11,693 8,514 37% Chemical 137 127 8% 6,853 5,117 34% Plastics and Rubbers 415 460 -10% 26,306 20,955 26% Wood/Pulp 214 261 -18% 12,605 21,791 -42% Textile 261 231 13% 17,220 16,736 3% Mineral and Stone 347 269 29% 15,967 12,480 28% Steel 558 323 73% 32,200 24,306 32% Electronics 193 357 -46% 20,844 22,710 -8% Furniture 173 142 22% 9,338 8,036 16% All U.S. Imports 7,145 6,037 18% 374,472 326,841 15%






Other Ports Week 47 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 Week Ending Nov 27, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 359 324 11% 15,499 14,760 5% Autos and Parts 110 77 43% 4,582 8,099 -43% Chemical 40 26 54% 1,704 1,301 31% Plastics and Rubbers 225 292 -23% 12,962 12,743 2% Wood/Pulp 125 174 -28% 6,989 8,765 -20% Textile 380 444 -14% 16,333 15,394 6% Mineral and Stone 52 54 -4% 2,976 3,537 -16% Steel 167 135 24% 6,653 5,036 32% Electronics 87 60 45% 3,404 4,448 -23% Furniture 243 282 -14% 9,063 9,634 -6% All U.S. Imports 3,251 3,214 1% 146,175 176,742 -17%

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