Week 33: Gulf Coast Ports See Huge Jump in Activity

In week 33, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 20% 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 137% in week 33 and up 89% for the year. Chemicals were particularly strong for the week at West Coast ports, where traffic was up 211% over the comparable week in 2009. That was the largest single percentage gain for the week, but was closely followed by the 186% gain that steel imports saw at the Gulf Ports, compared to the same week in 2009.

It continues to be a rough time for wood/pulp imports, however, as imports were down 41% for Week 33 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 33 was at the Gulf Coast ports, where import traffic was up 38% compared to the same week in 2009. Traffic at West Coast ports was up 21%, while traffic at the East Coast ports was up 18%. Traffic at all other U.S. ports was down 14% for the week.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 33 Total Traffic Week 33 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 12,569 11,356 11% 417,014 356,902 17% Autos and Parts 6,442 5,200 24% 198,971 162,347 23% Chemical 2,024 854 137% 58,496 30,873 89% Plastics and Rubbers 21,667 17,808 22% 596,134 504,556 18% Wood/Pulp 8,747 14,782 -41% 266,072 426,594 -38% Textile 22,591 19,573 15% 641,084 578,185 11% Mineral and Stone 4,053 3,664 11% 122,745 105,825 16% Steel 6,211 3,861 61% 180,619 145,069 25% Electronics 6,906 6,056 14% 219,599 178,500 23% Furniture 12,861 11,898 8% 423,245 375,081 13% All U.S. Imports 198,208 165,378 20% 5,891,008 5,106,208 15% East Coast Ports Week 33 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 6,750 6,183 9% 220,036 189,930 16% Autos and Parts 2,580 2,036 27% 73,549 59,384 24% Chemical 905 444 104% 23,349 13,470 73% Plastics and Rubbers 8,063 6,486 24% 207,410 176,109 18% Wood/Pulp 3,326 5,097 -35% 103,121 138,596 -26% Textile 9,134 7,608 20% 240,465 220,647 9% Mineral and Stone 1,944 1,760 10% 56,797 47,287 20% Steel 2,470 1,494 65% 65,368 52,314 25% Electronics 1,950 1,540 27% 59,896 43,656 37% Furniture 5,055 4,564 11% 151,586 137,457 10% All U.S. Imports 79,838 67,434 18% 2,279,110 2,004,638 14% West Coast Ports Week 33 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 4,834 4,215 15% 160,277 136,042 18% Autos and Parts 3,549 2,882 23% 114,343 91,559 25% Chemical 934 300 211% 29,196 13,052 124% Plastics and Rubbers 12,745 10,660 20% 361,198 305,599 18% Wood/Pulp 5,031 9,161 -45% 148,937 265,386 -44% Textile 12,794 11,370 13% 377,361 336,250 12% Mineral and Stone 1,646 1,610 2% 52,770 48,137 10% Steel 2,908 2,017 44% 89,289 70,369 27% Electronics 4,614 4,109 12% 141,755 118,939 19% Furniture 7,419 6,975 6% 258,594 225,756 15% All U.S. Imports 107,613 89,098 21% 3,251,741 2,768,152 17% Gulf Coast Ports Week 33 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 789 667 18% 25,318 21,099 20% Autos and Parts 235 163 44% 7,814 6,013 30% Chemical 149 95 57% 4,762 3,528 35% Plastics and Rubbers 627 430 46% 18,406 14,086 31% Wood/Pulp 292 357 -18% 8,840 16,625 -47% Textile 367 310 18% 11,809 10,815 9% Mineral and Stone 419 239 75% 11,053 8,102 36% Steel 726 254 186% 21,521 19,060 13% Electronics 302 354 -15% 15,579 13,427 16% Furniture 216 198 9% 6,763 5,549 22% All U.S. Imports 8,291 5,987 38% 258,496 227,074 14% Other Ports Week 33 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 Week Ending Aug 21, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 196 291 -33% 11,383 9,831 16% Autos and Parts 78 119 -34% 3,265 5,391 -39% Chemical 36 15 140% 1,189 823 44% Plastics and Rubbers 232 232 0% 9,120 8,762 4% Wood/Pulp 98 167 -41% 5,174 5,987 -14% Textile 296 285 4% 11,449 10,473 9% Mineral and Stone 44 55 -20% 2,134 2,299 -7% Steel 107 96 11% 4,441 3,326 34% Electronics 40 53 -25% 2,369 2,478 -4% Furniture 171 161 6% 5,982 6,319 -5% All U.S. Imports 2,466 2,859 -14% 101,661 106,344 -4%

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