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Global Port Tracker: Retail Imports to Increase 2.7 Percent in April as Customs Seeks to Minimize Sequestration’s Impact

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Sequestration notwithstanding, import volume at the top U.S. containerized retail cargo handling container ports should increase 2.7 percent this month, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released April 8 by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.

Global Port Tracker’s conclusions are based on a survey and analysis of inbound container traffic flows at the ports of Charleston, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Oakland, Port Everglades, Savannah, Seattle and Tacoma.

"The impact of sequestration isn’t yet fully known, but Customs officials are working hard to manage their resources and keep cargo moving,” said Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs. "Between their efforts to avoid delays and retailers’ adjustments to compensate, we’re not expecting consumers to see any difference on store shelves at this point. We are working closely with Customs to ensure that that remains the case.”

The ports in Global Port Tracker’s sample handled 1.29 million TEUs in February, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 2.5 percent from the preceding month but up 17.5 percent from February 2012. 
March is estimated at 1.28 million TEUs, up 2.6 percent from a year ago. Subsequent month forecasts: April – 1.35 million TEUs (+2.7 percent); May – 1.42 million TEUs (+3.2 percent); June – 1.42 million TEUs (+1.8 percent); July – 1.45 million TEUs (+1.5 percent); August – 1.44 million TEUs (+0.25 percent).

"Economic indicators continue to present a mixed picture of the prospects for the remainder of the year,” said Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett. "Sequestration does not help but on the other hand is not yet a major factor to take into account.”
 

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