ZEPOL Corporation, a Minneapolis-based research firm, reported that US
seatrade imports have risen 1.2 per cent in 2012, reports the American
Journal of Transportation, of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
US imports from Asia increased 0.2 per cent from 2011 compared to the year-on-year 6.4 per cent increase from Europe in 2012, said the firm, based in the Minneapolis area.
China, the leading exporter to the US, decreased 0.4 per cent in containerised exports for the second consecutive year while South Korea, the second largest, increased 1.2 per cent. Japanese and German volume, the third and fourth largest exporting countries to the US, increased 2.2 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively.
In total, 17.6 million TEU were imported, or 200,000 more containers than in 2011. "Slow and steady growth seems to be the consistent pattern for the year as import volume still has not returned to 2007 or 2008 levels," said the report, which is based on US Customs data. Zepol also noted a large spike from 2009 to 2010 and then a plateau-like trend for the past three years.
"In the past 12 months there have been strikes at the ports, hurricanes, and shifts in manufacturing. Not to mention that in a post-recession economy, US companies are running their businesses much more conservatively." said Zepol CEO Paul Rasmussen.
Zepol said Los Angeles was down 0.7 per cent and Long Beach slipped 2.3 per cent are the busiest ports in the country while New York-New Jersey, the nation's third largest port, increased in 2012 by 1.6 per cent. Norfolk, Virginia, was up 10.3 per cent and Charleston, South Carolina, was up 7.4 per cent.
Maersk Line was the top carrier again for 2012 and increased containerised exports to the US by 7.9 per cent followed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) the second largest carrier in 2012, which was up 0.6 per cent. APL came in third in volume, but was up 5.1 per cent year on year.
US imports from Asia increased 0.2 per cent from 2011 compared to the year-on-year 6.4 per cent increase from Europe in 2012, said the firm, based in the Minneapolis area.
China, the leading exporter to the US, decreased 0.4 per cent in containerised exports for the second consecutive year while South Korea, the second largest, increased 1.2 per cent. Japanese and German volume, the third and fourth largest exporting countries to the US, increased 2.2 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively.
In total, 17.6 million TEU were imported, or 200,000 more containers than in 2011. "Slow and steady growth seems to be the consistent pattern for the year as import volume still has not returned to 2007 or 2008 levels," said the report, which is based on US Customs data. Zepol also noted a large spike from 2009 to 2010 and then a plateau-like trend for the past three years.
"In the past 12 months there have been strikes at the ports, hurricanes, and shifts in manufacturing. Not to mention that in a post-recession economy, US companies are running their businesses much more conservatively." said Zepol CEO Paul Rasmussen.
Zepol said Los Angeles was down 0.7 per cent and Long Beach slipped 2.3 per cent are the busiest ports in the country while New York-New Jersey, the nation's third largest port, increased in 2012 by 1.6 per cent. Norfolk, Virginia, was up 10.3 per cent and Charleston, South Carolina, was up 7.4 per cent.
Maersk Line was the top carrier again for 2012 and increased containerised exports to the US by 7.9 per cent followed by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) the second largest carrier in 2012, which was up 0.6 per cent. APL came in third in volume, but was up 5.1 per cent year on year.