US ports: container imports update

The Port Tracker analysis is based on a survey of inbound container volume at ten of the largest US container handling ports – Charleston, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Oakland, Savannah, Seattle and Tacoma. Export, empty and domestic containers are excluded from the survey.

The ports handled 1.04m teu in May, up 5% from April’s 990,632 teu but down 20% from April 2008. It was the fourth lowest teu count since February 2004; it also marked the 23rd consecutive month of year-on-year decline.

Port Tracker is expecting a first half 2009 total of 6m teu, down 20% from 7.5m in the first half 2008.