National Retail Federation (NRF)

US container ports anticipate busy September

According to the Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, US major container ports are anticipated to experience another busy month in September, with a potential labour strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports looming.

In July, the US ports tracked by Global Port Tracker handled 2.32 million TEUs, marking an 8.1% increase from June and a 21% rise from the previous year, making it the busiest July on record.

For August, Global Port Tracker...

https://container-news.com/us-container-ports-anticipate-busy-september/

Monthly import cargo at US ports continues peak season surge

Monthly inbound cargo volume at the US major container ports could see a near-record surge this month as retailers bring in merchandise ahead of a potential strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports this fall, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Retailers are concerned by the possibility of a strike at ports on the East and Gulf coasts because contract talks have stalled,” mentioned Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President for...

https://container-news.com/monthly-import-cargo-at-us-ports-continues-peak-season-surge/

US containerized import volumes show strength

Despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, United States container import volumes appear to be holding up very well, as evidenced by year-over-year volume gains.

“We’re experiencing the strongest surge in volume we’ve seen in two years, and that’s a good sign for what retailers expect in sales,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation (NRF). Gold’s remarks were part of NRF’s monthly release analyzing US container...

https://container-news.com/us-containerized-import-volumes-show-strength/

Higher consumption in China, US contributed to rate spike

Rising consumption before and after China’s Labour Day holiday, the Canadian railroad strike and concerns relating to the labour-management conflict at US ports are contributing to the ongoing spike in freight rates, according to a report released by Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC).

The report stated that besides the oft-cited Red Sea crisis and the resulting shortage of vessels and containers, other factors have also accounted for the surge in freight rates.

“During the Labour Day...

https://container-news.com/higher-consumption-in-china-us-contributed-to-rate-spike/

US box imports down 19.3% in May

According to recent research by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, US ports observed by Global Port Tracker (GPT) handled over 2 million import TEUs in May, up 8.5% from April but down 19.3% from May 2022.

The ports have not yet released June figures, but GPT estimates 1.8 million import TEUs, which translates to a 17.5% year-on-year decrease.

This would result in 11 million TEUs in the first half of 2023, representing a 22% decline from the same period last year. In...

https://container-news.com/us-box-imports-down-19-3-in-may/

US ports achieve container import record in May 2022

US port imports hit another record high this spring, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report published by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

The reasons for that are that the country’s major container ports worked to ease congestion and retailers stocked up before the West Coast dock workers’ labor contract expired.

Specifically, US ports covered by the Global Port Tracker handled 2.4 million TEU in May, up 6% from April and up 2.7% year over year. They also...

https://container-news.com/us-ports-achieve-container-import-record-in-may-2022/

Port of LA threatens penalties for empty boxes left at clogged-up terminals

To nobody’s surprise, the spectre of late dwell charges on containers at the prime US port complex receded yet another week yesterday, as the port authorities of Los Angeles and Long Beach deferred a decision until 27 December.
However, the port of LA raised the spectre of charges for empty boxes clogging up terminals.
Executive director Gene Seroka said last week 60% of empty containers stayed nine days or longer at LA …

The post Port of LA threatens penalties for empty boxes left at clogged-up...

https://theloadstar.com/port-of-la-threatens-penalties-for-empty-boxes-left-at-clogged-up-terminals/

US Congress passes first shipping reform law in two decades

US Congress yesterday passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act 2021 (OSRA), amid complaints from carriers that the bill had not been properly debated.
According to the Congress.Gov website, the bill “revises provisions related to ocean shipping policies and is designed to support the growth and development of US exports and promote reciprocal trade in the foreign commerce of the United States”.
Essentially, OSRA 2021 is meant to support exporters aggrieved that ocean …

The post US Congress passes...

https://theloadstar.com/us-congress-passes-first-shipping-reform-law-in-two-decades/

Retailers jump the Black Friday gun in search of a Merry Christmas

This week, Walmart and other US retailers kicked off the season of frenzied bargain shopping with steep discounts on some products.
Normally Black Friday (due at the end of this week) marks the shopping season going into hyperdrive, but some players apparently decided not to wait that long this year.
Depending on where you stand, this can either be viewed as a bullish take on undiminished consumer appetite for more goods, or …

The post Retailers jump the Black Friday gun in search of a Merry...

https://theloadstar.com/retailers-jump-the-black-friday-gun-in-search-of-a-merry-christmas/

US ports container trade to keep on rising, according to NRF forecast

Imports at the largest retail container ports in the United States (US) are continuing to show double-digit growth over last year as strong consumer demand keeps up its momentum, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released on 8 July by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

“The year-over-year growth we saw this spring was off the charts because the comparisons were against a time when most stores were shut down due to the pandemic,” said NRF Vice President...

https://container-news.com/us-ports-container-trade-to-keep-on-rising-according-to-nrf-forecast/

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