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Danish ocean carrier Maersk will implement a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for shipments from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Bahrain for all dry containers starting 28 July 2024.

Despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, US containerized 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 imports at the biggest ports around the country.

According to Global Port Tracker, a monthly report produced by NRF and consulting firm Hackett Associates, major ports in the US handled 2.08 million import TEUs in May, which was 3% higher than April and 7.5% higher than May 2022. May’s figure is also the highest volume figure since August 2022, NRF said.

The figures exclude container volumes from the Port of New York and New Jersey, according to last week’s release from NRF and Hackett Associates. However, the Port of New York and New Jersey separately announced that loaded import container volumes were 413,833 TEUs, which was 17.8% higher than 351,430 TEUs in May 2023.

The higher volumes year-over-year were confirmed elsewhere as well: logistics technology platform provider Descartes Systems Group also noted last week that US container import volumes were 2,297,979 TEUs in June, up 10.4% year-over-year. However, on a sequential basis, US container imports in June were down 2.1% from May.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) noted in its June 2024 West Coast Trade Report that inbound loaded containers at major US ports rose 10.4% in April to 2.09 million TEUs. NRF and Hackett Associates’ figure for April was 2.02 million TEUs, which they said in June was highest number since 2.06 million TEU last October. PMSA and NRF and Hackett Associates track different US ports in their monthly coverage.

These higher port volumes are occurring despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, such as continued disruptions in the Red Sea, the looming presidential election in the United States in November and more political support for tariffs on imported goods. Stakeholders are also watching whether contract negotiations with East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers will shift some cargo to West Coast ports.

“The risks to global trade growth continue to increase,” said Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett in a release. “We are in a volatile situation with multiple pressures on the movement of goods, underpinned by continued inflationary pressures.”

Said Gold added: “Lulls between supply chain challenges seldom last long, and importers are currently looking at issues including high shipping rates, unresolved port labor negotiations and continuing capacity and congestion issues from the ongoing disruptions in the Red Sea.”

And said Descartes: “July’s update of logistics metrics monitored by Descartes reinforces the strength of imports since the start of 2024. Despite strong U.S. container imports, the risk of global supply chain disruptions remains high as the Middle East conflict and news of stalled labor negotiations at U.S. South Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports threaten the stability of global trade.”

NRF and Hackett Associates’ Global Port Tracker anticipate June container volumes to rise to 2.1 million TEUs, which would be up by 14.5% year-over-year. The report also expects July and August percentage increases to be in the double-digits before more modest increases for September and November.

The anticipated container volume increases come amid NRF forecasts that 2024 retail sales will grow between 2.5% and 3.5% over 2023. The sales figures exclude data from automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

Ocean rates out of Asia climbed significantly last week, with the latest daily prices already at US$8,200/FEU to North America West Coast, US$9,300/FEU to the East Coast, US$8,600/FEU to North Europe and US$7,900/FEU to the Mediterranean.

Peak season demand coinciding with Red Sea-driven capacity constraints and congestion has now pushed Asia – North America West Coast spot rates 60% higher than their February peak and prices to North Europe are 80% higher than highs seen in January. Transatlantic rates, meanwhile, have remained level for most of the year at about US$1,800/FEU despite a sharp increase early in the crisis.

An increase in transshipment has caused intra-Asia and Asia/South Asia – Middle East volumes to climb, with congestion and capacity shifts to other lanes also contributing to higher ocean rates on these lanes.

Intra-Asia volumes increased 14% year on year in May, with Freightos Terminal data showing rates from China to India have now spiked to about US$4,000 – US$5,000/FEU compared to about US$1,500 – US$2,000/FEU a year ago. Capacity shifts to Red Sea lanes and the transpacific – where rates are extremely elevated and attractive to carriers – are also impacting vessel availability to the Middle East.

Congestion levels at the Port of Singapore – a significant factor in the tightening of capacity since May – have continued to ease, with vessel wait times for an available berth down to about 2.5 days compared to more than a week in late May. Delays are partly due to vessel bunching from widespread late arrivals, and the port is activating additional new berths to help shorten the wait further.

In North America, Hurricane Beryl closed many Gulf Coast ports Sunday, with the Port of Houston expected to remain closed at least through Tuesday. The local ILWU port worker union chapter in Vancouver had announced a Monday strike as part of an ongoing dispute with port operators there, but Canada’s Industrial Relations Board ruled that the strike was illegal. The Board is expected to issue a ruling soon which would allow the rail workers union to strike, which could take place as soon as 72 hours following an announced Board decision.

In air cargo, global volumes increased 13% year on year in June, with Q2 cargo out of Asia up 18% year over year, after 20% growth in Q1 mostly attributed to e-commerce volumes. Freightos Air Index rates out of China remain elevated above normal off-season levels, but dipped 7% to N. America to US$5.58/kg and 10% to Europe to US$3.38/kg last week, possibly showing some form of seasonal easing.

In the first indications that worsening ocean disruptions since May could be pushing additional volumes to air, Middle East rates increased 5% to US$2.78/kg to N. America and 10% to US$1.88/kg to Europe last week though prices remain below levels seen in Q1.

Source: Container News

For the third month in a row, total volume at the Port of New York and New Jersey exceeded 700,000 TEUs, but that’s not the only notable achievement.

In May, the port also climbed to the top spot in the United States for both total TEUs and total loaded TEUs.

May’s total volume reached 790,758 TEUs, marking a 16.9% increase from the 676,311 TEUs recorded in the same month in 2023. This double-digit rise marked the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year volume growth and brought the port’s year-through-May total to 3,501,676 TEUs, positioning the Port of New York and New Jersey as the second-busiest cargo port in the nation so far this year.

Additionally, imports (TEUs) also saw impressive gains in May, rising by 17.8% compared to the previous year. A total of 413,833 TEUs moved through the US East Coast port in May, compared to 351,430 TEUs in May 2023. From January through May, imported loads reached 1,791,956 TEUs, a 14.1% increase from the 1,570,815 TEUs recorded in the same period of 2023.

Furthermore, exports (TEUs) increased by 12.7% in May compared to the previous year, totalling 124,801 TEUs, up from 110,695 TEUs in May 2023. From January through May, the port exported 570,901 TEUs, a 3.8% increase from the 549,823 TEUs recorded the previous year.

Export empties rose by 17.4% in May, totalling 250,070 TEUs compared to 212,995 TEUs in May 2023. From January through May, a total of 1,127,973 export empties were recorded, a 14.2% increase from the 987,475 TEUs posted in the same period of 2023. Import empties were up 40.5% from January through May compared to the previous year.

Additionally, rail volume increased by 3.8% from May 2023 figure, reaching 54,641 containers. From January through May, rail volume was 6.2% greater than in the same period of 2023.

In May, 33,984 autos moved through the port, an increase of 6.3% compared to May 2023. Auto volume for January through May rose by 11% from the same period in 2023.

Source: Container News

The Panama Canal marked the eighth anniversary of its expansion by announcing an increase in both its draft and daily transits.

These updates come as the Canal continues to address climate variability and secure future water supplies.

Through an Advisory to Shipping, the Canal revealed that the maximum authorized draft has been raised from 46 to 47 feet (14.33 meters) and will further increase to 48 feet (14.63 meters) on 11 July. Additionally, starting 5 August, a new booking slot for the Neopanamax locks will be introduced, increasing daily transits to 35 ships.

These updates follow improvements announced in June, which included raising daily transits from 32 to 33 on 11 July, and to 34 on 22 July.

The Canal’s operations are guided by current and projected water levels of Gatun Lake and the onset of the rainy season in the Canal watershed. The Expanded Canal, which opened on 26 June 2016, with the inaugural transit of the container ship Cosco Shipping Panama, represented the largest enhancement since the Canal’s original opening in 1914. This expansion has provided greater shipping options, enhanced maritime service, and improved supply chain reliability and sustainability.

The Expanded Canal has also enabled 90% of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels to pass through, increasing emission savings by allowing larger cargo volumes in fewer trips. The expansion has had a significant impact on the local and global economy, prompting ports worldwide to accommodate larger ships.

Since 2016, over 25,000 vessels have transited the Neopanamax locks. From October 2023 to May 2024 alone, 1,799 vessels transited the Expanded Canal, with 62.4% being container ships.

Initially designed for vessels with a maximum of 12,600 TEUs, the Neopanamax locks have surpassed this capacity thanks to operational experience and collaboration with customers.

The Canal’s anniversary arrives as it navigates the challenges of a prolonged dry season that previously limited daily transits. Despite the rainy season’s arrival, the water supply challenge remains, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change. Potential solutions include identifying alternative water sources and increasing storage capacity to ensure sustainability for both the Panamanian population and Canal operations.

Source: Container News