Week 43: Steel Imports Are Up, While Wood & Pulp Are Down

Nov. 18, 2010
Week 43: Steel Imports Are Up, While Wood & Pulp Are Down

In week 43, 2010, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 14% compared to the same week in 2009, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. For the year to date, overall traffic maintains its pace of being up 15% over the same period in 2009.

Chemical imports continue their strong run, being up 87% in week 43 and up 94% for the year. Chemicals were particularly strong for the week at West Coast ports, where traffic was up 112% over the comparable week in 2009. Steel imports also did well for the week, being up 38% overall compared to week 43 in 2009, and up an impressive 344% at Gulf Coast ports.

Wood/pulp imports were down 10% for week 43 compared to the same week in 2009, while electronics were down 7%, mineral & stone were down 3% and furniture was flat (0%). All other categories tracked by Zepol were up for week 43.

Geographically, the greatest increase in activity for week 43 was at Gulf Coast ports, where import traffic was up 57% compared to the same week in 2009. Traffic at East Coast ports was up 22%, and was up 8% at West Coast ports. However, traffic was down 33% at other ports.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 43 Total Traffic Week 43 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 12,285 11,027 11% 543,502 473,198 15% Autos and Parts 6,616 5,387 23% 263,981 217,242 22% Chemical 1,779 949 87% 77,814 40,114 94% Plastics and Rubbers 19,242 16,748 15% 808,418 687,891 18% Wood/Pulp 7,326 8,150 -10% 351,378 542,327 -35% Textile 23,209 19,656 18% 883,289 789,652 12% Mineral and Stone 3,638 3,760 -3% 161,262 145,102 11% Steel 5,752 4,179 38% 238,065 189,499 26% Electronics 5,831 6,298 -7% 291,486 244,834 19% Furniture 11,093 11,092 0% 547,632 489,799 12% All U.S. Imports 181,905 158,960 14% 7,836,136 6,839,282 15% East Coast Ports Week 43 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 7,202 6,113 18% 286,337 251,812 14% Autos and Parts 2,851 1,886 51% 99,492 78,888 26% Chemical 809 452 79% 31,679 17,947 77% Plastics and Rubbers 7,038 5,760 22% 280,071 238,204 18% Wood/Pulp 3,115 3,480 -10% 137,211 180,871 -24% Textile 9,070 7,105 28% 331,213 298,241 11% Mineral and Stone 1,806 1,917 -6% 74,653 66,586 12% Steel 2,167 1,550 40% 86,326 68,826 25% Electronics 1,602 1,480 8% 78,840 57,658 37% Furniture 4,567 3,986 15% 198,257 179,597 10% All U.S. Imports 77,308 63,171 22% 3,036,432 2,667,852 14% West Coast Ports Week 43 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 4,032 3,782 7% 209,742 179,779 17% Autos and Parts 3,365 2,949 14% 149,772 122,996 22% Chemical 782 369 112% 38,337 16,405 134% Plastics and Rubbers 11,160 10,225 9% 492,233 419,058 17% Wood/Pulp 3,828 4,199 -9% 196,112 332,852 -41% Textile 13,097 11,737 12% 521,035 462,190 13% Mineral and Stone 1,353 1,463 -8% 69,199 63,930 8% Steel 2,248 2,164 4% 116,294 93,259 25% Electronics 3,941 3,898 1% 189,550 162,965 16% Furniture 6,054 6,676 -9% 332,163 294,286 13% All U.S. Imports 91,333 84,707 8% 4,323,166 3,709,622 17% Gulf Coast Ports Week 43 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 798 735 9% 33,184 28,359 17% Autos and Parts 335 151 122% 10,548 7,730 36% Chemical 160 93 72% 6,239 4,610 35% Plastics and Rubbers 754 432 75% 24,156 19,034 27% Wood/Pulp 263 293 -10% 11,548 20,563 -44% Textile 693 455 52% 16,006 15,247 5% Mineral and Stone 416 275 51% 14,637 11,366 29% Steel 1,129 254 344% 29,314 22,845 28% Electronics 240 786 -69% 20,001 20,080 0% Furniture 211 144 47% 8,648 7,336 18% All U.S. Imports 10,189 6,482 57% 342,672 299,296 14% Other Ports Week 43 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 Week Ending Oct 30, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 253 397 -36% 14,239 13,248 7% Autos and Parts 65 401 -84% 4,169 7,628 -45% Chemical 28 35 -20% 1,559 1,152 35% Plastics and Rubbers 290 331 -12% 11,958 11,595 3% Wood/Pulp 120 178 -33% 6,507 8,041 -19% Textile 349 359 -3% 15,035 13,974 8% Mineral and Stone 63 105 -40% 2,782 3,220 -14% Steel 208 211 -1% 6,131 4,569 34% Electronics 48 134 -64% 3,095 4,131 -25% Furniture 261 286 -9% 8,244 8,580 -4% All U.S. Imports 3,075 4,600 -33% 133,866 162,512 -18%

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