US first quarter reefer volume shows promising gain

MONTH-TO-MONTH increases in demand for US domestic reefer containers were reported across the country in the first quarter from January's 10 per cent rise to March's 20 per cent increase, with overall volume hikes of 15.7 per cent year on year.

International containers showed robust gains in port volumes of 7.8 per cent during the reported period with growth incrementally of one per cent in January, three per cent in February and 18 per cent by March across all ports except the south west which experienced a 2.8 per cent drop.

Overall intermodal volume gains hit 8.4 per cent with a slow start in January against the same period in 2009, but by March there were marked increases to 16.7 per cent year on year according to report from the Houston-based Refrigerated Transporter journal.

Intermodal volumes rose across the US greater than six per cent, outside of the south west with a lesser uplift of 2.8 per cent.

(Source: www.schednet.com)