US box traffic expected to rise 10pc in May, 17pc in June

US import container cargo volume at major American is expected to be up 10 per cent in May with double-digit increases expected into the autumn as the economy improves, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

"Consumers are feeling better about the economy and retailers are building up their inventories to meet that demand," NRF vice president Jonathan Gold said. "It's easy to show an increase after last year's downturn, but these numbers show us that retailers are confident their sales are going to go up this summer and give us an early hint of optimism about the fall as well."

US ports handled 1.07 million TEU in March, the latest month for which actual numbers are available. That was up seven per cent from February, traditionally the slowest month of the year, and up 12 per cent from March 2009. It was also the fourth month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December broke a 28-month streak of year-on-year monthly declines, said the report.

April was estimated at 1.11 million TEU, a 12 per cent increase over last year as spring products headed for store shelves. May is forecast at 1.14 million TEU, up 10 per cent from last year; June at 1.19 million TEU, up 17 per cent; July at 1.25 million TEU, up 13 per cent; August at 1.32 million TEU, up 14 per cent; and September at 1.35 million TEU, up 19 per cent.

The first half of 2010 is expected to total 6.6 million TEU, up 12 per cent. Imports for 2009 totalled 12.7 million TEU, down 17 per cent from 2008's 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 12.5 million TEU reported in 2003.

"All the indications are that ships remain full and that volumes increased in April and will continue to do so for the next few months," Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. "As consumers come warily back and re-stocking continues, the hesitant recovery will gain strength and stability."

Port Tracker is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the west coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the east coast and Houston on the Gulf Coast.

(Source: www.schednet.com)