CONTAINER volumes handled in the eight major North America east coast ports in the first quarter rose by 6.4 per cent year on year to 5.5 million TEU, with laden imports increasing by 9.4 per cent, while laden exports grew just 1.9 per cent and empties were up 6.9 per cent, according to SeaIntel Maritime Analysis.
The port of New York and New Jersey remains by far the busiest port in the region, handling 1.7 million TEU in the first quarter, an increase of 9.6 per cent year on year.
The port of Savannah increased throughput by 6.3 per cent to one million TEU. The ports of Jacksonville and Baltimore saw considerably higher growth in container volumes of 23.1 per cent and 16.2 per cent respectively, although they are the ports with the lowest volumes of 314,662 TEU and 254,004 TEU.
With Q1 volumes of 535,538 TEU, Charleston was the only port to see volumes decline by -3.2 per cent.
In terms of market share, there has been no significant changes, with NY/NJ handling almost a third of the containers volumes. The only notable change was of Jacksonville increasing its market share by 1.0 percentage point, and of Charleston seeing a 1.0 percentage point decrease in market share.
Commenting on the data, SeaIntel CEO Alan Murphy said: 'While overall handling growth has been relatively mild, this has been primarily due to weak exports, with laden imports growing a very healthy 9.7 per cent yoy in Q1.
'Recent Transpacific volumes estimates from Container Trade Statistics suggested that the hitherto strong exports out of Asia to North America had collapsed somewhat in March, but due to the sailing distance to the east coast, this would not yet be reflected in the Q1 imports.
'It will be interesting to see if the sudden March weakening is reflected in the east coast volumes in April/May.'
The port of New York and New Jersey remains by far the busiest port in the region, handling 1.7 million TEU in the first quarter, an increase of 9.6 per cent year on year.
The port of Savannah increased throughput by 6.3 per cent to one million TEU. The ports of Jacksonville and Baltimore saw considerably higher growth in container volumes of 23.1 per cent and 16.2 per cent respectively, although they are the ports with the lowest volumes of 314,662 TEU and 254,004 TEU.
With Q1 volumes of 535,538 TEU, Charleston was the only port to see volumes decline by -3.2 per cent.
In terms of market share, there has been no significant changes, with NY/NJ handling almost a third of the containers volumes. The only notable change was of Jacksonville increasing its market share by 1.0 percentage point, and of Charleston seeing a 1.0 percentage point decrease in market share.
Commenting on the data, SeaIntel CEO Alan Murphy said: 'While overall handling growth has been relatively mild, this has been primarily due to weak exports, with laden imports growing a very healthy 9.7 per cent yoy in Q1.
'Recent Transpacific volumes estimates from Container Trade Statistics suggested that the hitherto strong exports out of Asia to North America had collapsed somewhat in March, but due to the sailing distance to the east coast, this would not yet be reflected in the Q1 imports.
'It will be interesting to see if the sudden March weakening is reflected in the east coast volumes in April/May.'