In week 37, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 10% compared to the same week in 2009, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. That represents a significant slowing from the results reported for week 35, which were up 21% compared to the previous year, indicating that peak season occurred earlier this year than in 2009. For the year to date, overall traffic maintains its pace of being up 15% over the same period in 2009.
Chemical imports remain the strongest sector, being up 108% in week 37 and up 92% for the year. Chemicals were particularly strong for the week at West Coast ports, where traffic was up 157% over the comparable week in 2009. Steel imports also did well for the week, being up 30% overall compared to week 37 in 2009, and up 206% at Gulf Coast ports.
Wood/pulp imports were down 46% for week 37 compared to the same week in 2009, and are down 39% 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 37 was at East Coast ports ,where import traffic was up 19% compared to the same week in 2009. Traffic at Gulf Coast ports was up 9%, and was up 5% at West Coast ports. However, traffic was down 6% at other ports.
| Waterborne AMS Shipment Count |
| Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports |
| Week 37 |
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| Total Traffic | Week 37 | Cumulative Year to Date |
| Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 | Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 |
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change |
| Food and Beverage | 13,489 | 11,587 | 16% | 469,004 | 403,124 | 16% |
| Autos and Parts | 6,511 | 5,845 | 11% | 224,326 | 184,202 | 22% |
| Chemical | 1,872 | 901 | 108% | 66,464 | 34,602 | 92% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 21,265 | 19,359 | 10% | 683,464 | 580,666 | 18% |
| Wood/Pulp | 8,915 | 16,519 | -46% | 301,735 | 490,954 | -39% |
| Textile | 22,792 | 21,623 | 5% | 739,217 | 666,028 | 11% |
| Mineral and Stone | 3,687 | 4,116 | -10% | 139,344 | 122,465 | 14% |
| Steel | 6,067 | 4,675 | 30% | 203,935 | 162,755 | 25% |
| Electronics | 7,324 | 6,935 | 6% | 248,590 | 204,617 | 21% |
| Furniture | 12,762 | 12,067 | 6% | 475,333 | 422,059 | 13% |
| All U.S. Imports | 194,618 | 176,967 | 10% | 6,687,224 | 5,822,484 | 15% |
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| East Coast Ports | Week 37 | Cumulative Year to Date |
| Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 | Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 |
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change |
| Food and Beverage | 7,050 | 5,978 | 18% | 246,541 | 213,829 | 15% |
| Autos and Parts | 2,559 | 1,843 | 39% | 83,629 | 66,883 | 25% |
| Chemical | 836 | 427 | 96% | 26,803 | 15,342 | 75% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 7,743 | 6,362 | 22% | 237,247 | 201,423 | 18% |
| Wood/Pulp | 3,765 | 5,406 | -30% | 117,110 | 160,225 | -27% |
| Textile | 8,669 | 8,107 | 7% | 276,663 | 252,702 | 9% |
| Mineral and Stone | 1,553 | 2,148 | -28% | 64,381 | 55,619 | 16% |
| Steel | 2,152 | 1,749 | 23% | 73,633 | 58,791 | 25% |
| Electronics | 2,022 | 1,527 | 32% | 67,557 | 49,540 | 36% |
| Furniture | 5,069 | 4,015 | 26% | 171,077 | 154,655 | 11% |
| All U.S. Imports | 77,242 | 64,994 | 19% | 2,585,498 | 2,268,708 | 14% |
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| West Coast Ports | Week 37 | Cumulative Year to Date |
| Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 | Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 |
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change |
| Food and Beverage | 5,317 | 4,524 | 18% | 181,262 | 154,170 | 18% |
| Autos and Parts | 3,606 | 3,641 | -1% | 128,214 | 104,176 | 23% |
| Chemical | 855 | 333 | 157% | 32,980 | 14,372 | 129% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 12,652 | 12,188 | 4% | 415,278 | 353,199 | 18% |
| Wood/Pulp | 4,742 | 10,383 | -54% | 168,923 | 305,245 | -45% |
| Textile | 13,441 | 12,791 | 5% | 436,334 | 389,241 | 12% |
| Mineral and Stone | 1,678 | 1,590 | 6% | 59,806 | 54,685 | 9% |
| Steel | 2,841 | 2,489 | 14% | 100,479 | 79,676 | 26% |
| Electronics | 4,998 | 4,779 | 5% | 161,439 | 136,666 | 18% |
| Furniture | 7,311 | 7,571 | -3% | 289,487 | 253,808 | 14% |
| All U.S. Imports | 105,996 | 101,061 | 5% | 3,694,794 | 3,158,259 | 17% |
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| Gulf Coast Ports | Week 37 | Cumulative Year to Date |
| Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 | Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 |
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change |
| Food and Beverage | 819 | 747 | 10% | 28,584 | 23,974 | 19% |
| Autos and Parts | 243 | 205 | 19% | 8,832 | 6,806 | 30% |
| Chemical | 131 | 114 | 15% | 5,334 | 3,944 | 35% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 568 | 523 | 9% | 20,644 | 16,110 | 28% |
| Wood/Pulp | 261 | 512 | -49% | 9,951 | 18,593 | -46% |
| Textile | 334 | 413 | -19% | 13,279 | 12,390 | 7% |
| Mineral and Stone | 403 | 309 | 30% | 12,761 | 9,566 | 33% |
| Steel | 959 | 313 | 206% | 24,799 | 20,539 | 21% |
| Electronics | 245 | 535 | -54% | 16,933 | 15,571 | 9% |
| Furniture | 163 | 206 | -21% | 7,591 | 6,367 | 19% |
| All U.S. Imports | 8,130 | 7,453 | 9% | 292,089 | 256,306 | 14% |
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| Other Ports | Week 37 | Cumulative Year to Date |
| Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 | Week Ending Sep 18, 2010 |
| 2010 | 2009 | Change | 2010 | 2009 | Change |
| Food and Beverage | 303 | 338 | -10% | 12,617 | 11,151 | 13% |
| Autos and Parts | 103 | 156 | -34% | 3,651 | 6,337 | -42% |
| Chemical | 50 | 27 | 85% | 1,347 | 944 | 43% |
| Plastics and Rubbers | 302 | 286 | 6% | 10,295 | 9,934 | 4% |
| Wood/Pulp | 147 | 218 | -33% | 5,751 | 6,891 | -17% |
| Textile | 348 | 312 | 12% | 12,941 | 11,695 | 11% |
| Mineral and Stone | 53 | 69 | -23% | 2,405 | 2,595 | -7% |
| Steel | 115 | 124 | -7% | 5,024 | 3,749 | 34% |
| Electronics | 59 | 94 | -37% | 2,661 | 2,840 | -6% |
| Furniture | 219 | 275 | -20% | 6,858 | 7,229 | -5% |
| All U.S. Imports | 3,250 | 3,459 | -6% | 114,843 | 139,211 | -18% |
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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...
