August Import Volume Set to Rise in US Container Ports

Port of Los Angeles An increase in cargo import cargo volume at major retail container ports in the US is expected in August as the seasonal peak approaches, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said in its Global Port Tracker report. Namely, cargo volume for 2016 are expected to end the year with a 1.6 percent increase over last year. August is the peak month of the annual shipping season that builds up to the winter holidays, and a lot of the merchandiseis already showing up at the docks, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.58 million TEUs in June, down by 2.8 percent from May and 0.5 percent from June 2015. July was estimated at 1.64 million TEU, up 1.5 percent from the same month last year, while August is forecast at 1.68 million TEU, down 0.3 percent from last year. The report notes that September volumes are expected to be at 1.61 million TEU, down 0.6 percent, while the remaining months of the year could see an increase in volumes. Namely, October volumes are expected to reach 1.63 million TEU, up 4.9 percent, November volumes could increase by 2.9 percent to 1.52 million TEU, and December volumes at 1.47 million TEU, up 2.5 percent, bringing 2016 volumes to a total of 18.5 million TEU, up 1.7 percent from last year. The first half of 2016 totaled 8.98 million TEU, up 1.4 percent from the same period in 2015.