April 12, 2024
The United States' National Retail Federation (NRF) announced that U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.96 million TEU in February, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 0.3% from January but up 26.4% from the same month last year, when many Asian factories were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Ports have not yet reported March's numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.8 million TEU, down 7.8% from February because of Lunar New Year's impact but up 11% year over year.
April is forecast at 1.93 million TEU, up 8.4% year over year, and May at 2.04 million TEU, up 5.5% and the highest level since 2.06 million last October. June is forecast at 2 million TEU, up 8.9%; July at 2.04 million TEU, up 6.6%, and August at 2.09 million TEU, up 6.9%.
The first half of 2024 is expected to total 11.7 million TEU, up 11% from the same period last year. Imports during 2023 totaled 22.3 million TEU, down 12.8% from 2022.
Source: NRF