Shipping traffic in 2008 dropped to four-year low
From Home Textiles Today
-- Home Accents Today, 1/13/2009 8:45:00 AM
Washington – December was the 17th consecutive month of decline in year-over-year cargo volume at major U.S. container ports, generating a 2008 with less retail import volume than at any time since 2004.
According to the monthly Port Tracker results from IHS Global Insight, sponsored by the National Retail Federation, 2008 volume for the year was approximately 15.3 million Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units, down 7.1% from 16.5 million TEU in 2007. Volume in 2004 was 14 million TEU, the researchers said.
The last month when Port Tracker found a year-over-year increase was July 2007, when 1.44 million TEU moved through the ports, up 3.4% from July 2006.
“All U.S. ports covered by Port Tracker – Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast – are rated ‘low’ for congestion, the same as last month,” reported IHS.
Just ahead, Port Tracker predicts January at 1.16 million TEU, down 6.3% year-to-year; February down 11.1%, March up 1.1%, April down 2.6%, and May down 4%.
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