MINNEAPOLIS — October 13, 2011 — Zepol Corporation, the leading trade intelligence company, reports
that U.S. import shipment volume for September, measured in TEUs, decreased 6.73% from August and
showed a similar decrease of 4.52% from September of 2010. The total number of shipments also
decreased almost 9% from August while also showing a decrease of 2.31% from September of 2010. Year
to date, total TEUs are up 1.44% this year over last year.
Key Statistics from this Month’s Update:
1. Incoming shipments from both Asia and Europe show decreases of 8.75% and 15.74%,
respectively, for September. Despite an 18% increase of shipments two months previously in August,
Taiwan recorded a decrease of almost 20% in September. Japan also showed a decrease in shipments of
over 12% in September after a similar increase in August. When comparing incoming shipments from
Europe, 11 of the top 15 countries recorded decreases in September, with the largest decrease
occurring in Greece.
2. Several of the U.S. ports showed decreases in incoming TEUs for September, including the
Pacific and Mid Atlantic ports with nearly 9% and 12% decreases, respectively. Los Angeles and San
Francisco each displayed decreases of 9% and 11.37% last month. Together, the states of New York
and New Jersey accounted for 13.38% of the Mid Atlantic ports decrease.
3. Apl Co. maintains their number two carrier position, behind Maersk Line, despite a 7.60%
decrease in TEUs for September. They are not alone, however, as nine out of the top 10 carriers
experienced similar decreases, the highest with Nippon Yusen Kaisha. Of the top 10, Hanjin Shipping
Company had the sole increase in TEUs of just 0.64% for the month of
September.
Methodology:
Zepol’s data is derived from Bills of Lading entered into the Automated Manifest System. This
information represents the number of House manifests entered by importers of waterborne
containerized goods. This is the earliest indicator for trade data available for the previous
month’s import activity. The data excludes shipments from empty containers, excludes shipments
labeled as freight remaining on board, and may contain other data anomalies.
Posted on October 14, 2011
Source: Zepol Corp.
