Posts Tagged “U.S. Port Imports”

West Coast container imports plunged 22% compared to a year ago in April, while volumes on the East Coast declined by 20%. This is according to online The McCown Report by shipping expert John D. McCown.

Los Angeles had the biggest drop in April last, down 25%, while the eastern Port of Charlston’s imports fell by 28%.

This comes as the Pacific ports have continued to be burdened by ongoing labor negotiations, thus shifting inbound volume to East and Gulf coast ports.

“If economic conditions improve and we get a labor deal in place, that will definitely help drive our volume,” Gene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles, told The Load Star.

The executive also noted the port is currently working at 70% capacity and quoted the unstable state of the global economy as well as the labor issues as the main causes for the slide.

This April was the eighth lowest volume month since the pandemic first began to affect container volumes in March 2020.

The figures still represent an improvement over the previous month, which showed a record 32% decline in imports.

In a May 2 column by McCown, the executive stated that, however grim the latest numbers may seem, the situation could soon be reversed as both inbound and outbound volumes are expected to rise.

“Reasonable estimates show we will need additional terminal capacity in 25 years equal to 5.4 times the biggest U.S. port’s current volume and in 50 years that will be equal to 16.1 times that port’s current volume,” McCown said in his report.

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From January through September U.S. fresh vegetable imports totaled $7.56 billion, up 13 percent compared with the same period in 2019.

In contrast, U.S. fresh fruit imports (excluding bananas and plantains) totaled $8.99 billion from January through September, down 2 percent.

2020 U.S. imports of bananas and plantains during that period totaled $1.84 billion, up 2 percent compared with the same months in 2019.

Through the first six months of 2020, port volume , compared with a year ago, shows mixed trends, according to data from the USDA. 

Here are cargo trend highlights from selected ports.

Port of Seattle

Port of Seattle 2020 imports through June, compared with the same period in 2019:

• Bananas: 58,301 metric tons, up 19 percent from 49,189 metric tons;
• Pineapples: 1,366 metric tons, down 52 percent from 2,859 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 35,399 metric tons, up 9 percent from 32,490 metric tons;
• Vegetables: 20,420 metric tons, up 27 percent from 16,035 metric tons;
• Onions/shallots: 4,125 metric tons, up 135 percent from 1,231 metric tons.

Port of Seattle 2020 exports through June, compared with the same period in 2019:

• Vegetables; 273,292 metric tons, down 16 percent from 326,183 metric tons;
• Onions/shallots: 1,023 metric tons, down from 8,309 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 76,340 metric tons, unchanged from 76,364 metric tons; and
• Berries: 2,396 metric tons, up 58 percent from 1,517 metric tons.

Port of Wilmington, Del.

Port of Wilmington 2020 imports through June, compared with the same period in 2019: 

• Bananas: 774,459 metric tons, up 4.6 percent from 740,266 metric tons;
• Pineapples: 139,911 metric tons, down 10 percent compared with 154,957 metric tons;
• Vegetables: 11,629 metric tons, down 12 percent compared 13,090 metric tons;
• Berries: 2,848 metric tons, up 44 percent compared with 1,975 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 128,876 metric tons, down 4 percent compared with 134,040 metric tons;
• Mandarin oranges: 18,518 metric tons, up 67 percent compared with 11,094 metric tons; and 
• Lemons: 953 metric tons, up 20 percent compared with 791 metric tons.

Port of Los Angeles

Port of Los Angeles 2020 exports through June, compared with same period in 2019:

• Deciduous fruit: 8,074 metric tons, down 57 percent compared with 18,699 metric tons;
• Vegetables: 8,373 metric tons, down 69 percent compared with 27,043 metric tons;
• Oranges: 29,940 metric tons, down 22 percent compared with 38,372 metric ton;
• Lemons: 6,503 metric tons, down 72 percent compared with 23,315 metric tons;
• Edible nuts: 25,250 metric tons, down 60 percent compared with 63,343 metric tons; and
• Cherries: 113 metric tons, down 62 percent compared with 294 metric tons.

Port of Philadelphia

Port of Philadelphia 2020 imports through June, compared with 2019:

• Pineapples: 102,507 metric tons, up 39 percent compared with 73,665 metric tons;
• Oranges: 42,980 metric tons, up 298 percent compared with 10,791 metric tons;
• Onions/shallots; 10,774 metric tons, up 145 percent compared with 4,406 metric tons;
• Mandarins: 15,528 metric tons, down 24 percent compared with 20,513 metric tons;
• Lemons: 19,908 metric tons, up 59 percent compared with 12,504 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 350,412 metric tons, up 31 percent compared with 267,418 metric tons;
• Berries: 46,647 metric tons, up 156 percent compared with 18,169 metric tons;
• Bananas: 296,196 metric tons, up 42 percent compared with 207,522 metric tons; and 
• Vegetables: 16,625 metric tons, down 37 percent compared with 26,239 metric tons.

Port of New York

Port of New York 2020 imports through June, compared with 2019:

• Vegetables: 298,760 metric tons, up 17 percent compared with 254,456 metric tons;
• Oranges: 16,375 metric tons, up 31 percent compared with 12,469 metric tons;
• Onions/shallots: 26,270 metric tons, up 376 percent compared with 5,512 metric tons;
• Mandarins: 1,217 metric tons, down 85 percent compared with 8,188 metric tons;
• Lemons: 13,780 metric tons down 6 percent compared with 14,660 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 86,918 metric tons, down 5 percent compared with 91,534 metric tons;
• Asparagus: 5,048 metric tons, up 386 percent compared with 1,037 metric tons; and 
• Bananas: 62,489 metric tons, down 7 percent compared with 67,151 metric tons.

Port of Everglades, FL

Port of Everglades 2020 imports through June, compared with 2019:

• Asparagus: 14,464 metric tons, up 226 percent compared with 4,428 metric tons;
• Bananas: 170,861 metric tons, up 17 percent compared with 146,316 metric tons;
• Berries: 94,693 metric tons, up 562 percent compared with 14,288 metric tons;
• Deciduous fruit: 108,797 metric tons, down 40 percent compared with 180,496 metric tons;
• Lemons: 3,897 metric tons, up 31 percent compared with 2,983 metric tons;
• Onions/shallots: 3,125 metric tons, up 105 percent compared 1,522 metric tons;
• Oranges: 2,897 metric tons, up 626 percent compared with 399 metric tons;
• Pineapples: 26,156 metric tons, down 8 percent compared with 28,526 metric tons; and
• Vegetables: 58,064 metric tons, up 7 percent compared with 54,320 metric tons

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