RESEARCH firm Zepol Corp, using US Customs bill-of-lading data, reports that American containerised imports increased 1.5 per cent year on year in December with total inbound boxes up less that one per cent.

China exported 0.8 per cent less to the US year on year while South Korean exports increased 5.3 per cent with total 2011 Asian imports fell 0.5 per cent and European imports rose 8.5 per cent. There was a 12.2 per cent boost from Germany and a 19.3 per cent increase from Belgium. South American imports grew 3.6 per cent in 2011.



Los Angeles was the top port for containerised imports, up 1.8 per cent while Seattle suffered a 14 per cent year-on-year decline.



Among carriers, Zepol found that MSC had the largest import volume into the US at 11 per cent. The largest carrier, Maersk, suffered a 0.7 per cent drop and Singapore's APL experienced a seven per cent decline.