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Port Traffic Trends: U.S. Waterborne Foreign Trade Gains in 2014, Baltimore, Hamilton

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U.S. Waterborne Foreign Trade Gains in 2014 

Reversing a two-year pattern of decline, America’s waterborne foreign trade grew in 2014, up 2.4 percent from the year before to 1.29 billion metric tons, according to data collected and reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Exports rose 5.4 percent to a record 614 million tons, despite a 1.4 percent decline in the final quarter of the year. Imports dropped 0.1 percent to a 17-year low of 673 million tons, much of it the result of America’s declining appetite for foreign petroleum.

The value of trade also increased, by .04 percent to $1.75 trillion, reflecting gains of 0.8 percent for exports and 0.2 percent for imports.  

Asia remained America’s leading trading region, with cargo volume from January through December of 355.1 million tons ( 6.4 percent) with a value of nearly $835 billion ( 2.1 percent). The strongest growth came from India and South Korea, with cargo tonnage increases over 2013 of 22.9 percent and 23.6 percent, respectively.

Within the Western Hemisphere, tonnage gains from 2013 occurred in U.S. trade with Canada, Mexico, and South and Central America, while declines prevailed in the Caribbean.  

Elsewhere, the data show tonnage gains for U.S. seatrade with the European Union, Australia, and North Africa and declines in Sub-Saharan Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East. Comparisons of the volume and value of U.S. sea trade by world region for the years 2013-2014 are presented in Tables I and II of the first attachment. 

Twenty-five countries generated roughly 78 percent of both the volume and value of U.S. international waterborne trade in 2014. Five alone – China, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil – accounted for 37 percent of total tonnage; 42 percent of the dollar total came from trade with China, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Mexico. Rankings of America's top 25 trading partners in 2014 based on cargo volume (Table III) and value (Table IV) can be found in the second attachment.

Houston-Galveston was the top U.S. Customs district in 2014 based on import and total foreign seaborne cargo tonnage, while the New Orleans district led in export tonnage. Ranked by dollar value, the Los Angeles district stood first in imports and total trade. Houston/Galveston topped the export list. See the third attachment for the 2014 rankings by volume (table A) and value (table B) of seaborne cargo. 

Baltimore: General Cargo, Autos, Containers Set Records in 2014    

The Maryland Port Administration reports that 2014 was a banner for the Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals. Autos and containers each set records and helped drive general cargo throughput to an all-time high of 9.7 million short tons. General cargo includes autos, containers, forest products, roll-on/roll-off equipment, and breakbulk.   

Specifically:
  • Autos (public and private terminals): 792,795 cars; the previous record was 752,100 cars in 2013.
  • Export autos (public terminals): 259,312 exported cars, up 9 percent from last year’s record 237,397.
  • Containers (public terminals): 484,410 containers, up 10 percent from the previous record, 439,802 in 2013.
  • General Cargo (public terminals): 9.7 million tons, up 1.0 percent from 2013; the previous record was 9.6 million tons in 2012.
In sum, Baltimore’s public and private terminals handled some 29.5 million tons of international cargo valued at approximately $52.5 billion, compared to 30.3 million tons and $52.6 million in 2013, with the difference largely due to a drop in export coal, all of which is shipped through private terminals.

"The Port of Baltimore is one of Maryland’s most important economic assets and it will play an integral role in our efforts to help grow the state’s economy," said Gov. Larry Hogan. "My administration is focused on building Maryland’s reputation as a place that’s open for business, and the port can play a pivotal role in spreading this message while also delivering real economic growth." 

Hamilton Port Traffic up 5% in 2014

The Port of Hamilton handled 10,526,732 metric tons of cargo in 2014, a 5 percent increase from 2013. Overseas trade alone jumped 39 percent to a 10-year high of 2.0 million tons. During the year, the port hosted 157 oceangoing ships and 462 Laker vessels.  

The composition of cargo transiting the Port of Hamilton comprises a diversified mix representing the port’s service to the entire regional economy. 

Agricultural commodities have grown steadily, from 12 percent of total tonnage in 2010, to more than 19 percent in 2014. Grain from all over southern Ontario is exported to international markets through Hamilton. The port is also a primary gateway for imported fertilizer used on Ontario farms.   

Many overseas vessels in 2014 carried finished steel imported from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. Finished steel tonnages totaled more than half a million tons and exceeded the port’s five-year average by 68 percent. The growth is due in part to dampened global prices for the commodity, as well as increased demand in regional manufacturing and construction sectors. 

Project cargo shipments totaled 14,000 tons, an increase of 51 percent, and included wind blades and turbines, power plant components, construction machinery and vehicles, steel cables and pipes, and a yacht. 

"Our job is to help Ontario businesses compete," said Hamilton Port Authority President & CEO Bruce Wood. "We’ve brought together a set of transportation and logistics supports that give our customers a competitive edge."
 

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