Week 19 Global Shipping Report: Chemical Imports Jump by 89%

In week 19, total traffic for all imports entering U.S. ports was up 23% over the comparable period a year ago, according to U.S. import market data compiled by Zepol Corp. For the year-to-date, imports are up 12% over 2009. Leading the way are chemical imports, which are up 89% compared to a year ago. The biggest decline is in wood/pulp imports, which are down 33% over the same period in 2009.

Waterborne AMS Shipment Count Number of Shipments Entering U.S. Ports Week 19 Total Traffic Week 19 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 15, 2010 Week Ending May 15, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 12,873 10,006 29% 235,970 200,729 18% Autos and Parts 6,534 5,120 28% 107,976 90,320 20% Chemical 1,957 1,033 89% 31,675 17,885 77% Plastics and Rubbers 17,827 14,580 22% 312,960 268,116 17% Wood/Pulp 8,086 12,039 -33% 141,865 232,174 -39% Textile 17,916 15,319 17% 339,479 317,910 7% Mineral and Stone 3,770 3,218 17% 65,498 57,648 14% Steel 5,820 4,221 38% 96,769 88,661 9% Electronics 7,581 5,570 36% 120,874 96,659 25% Furniture 12,834 16,238 -21% 207,410 296,946 -30% All U.S. Imports 184,262 149,699 23% 3,159,586 2,833,006 12% East Coast Ports Week 19 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 15, 2010 Week Ending May 15, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 6,742 5,352 26% 125,373 107,332 17% Autos and Parts 2,256 1,767 28% 38,999 32,950 18% Chemical 672 351 91% 12,364 7,247 71% Plastics and Rubbers 6,202 4,911 26% 110,434 94,668 17% Wood/Pulp 3,000 3,869 -22% 55,699 75,395 -26% Textile 6,858 6,083 13% 129,469 121,745 6% Mineral and Stone 1,676 1,422 18% 30,623 25,298 21% Steel 2,144 1,547 39% 35,613 31,658 12% Electronics 1,994 1,155 73% 33,243 24,873 34% Furniture 4,168 5,551 -25% 70,978 108,943 -35% All U.S. Imports 69,554 57,164 22% 1,237,628 1,118,804 11% West Coast Ports Week 19 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 15, 2010 Week Ending May 15, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 4,959 3,819 30% 89,389 76,203 17% Autos and Parts 3,913 3,119 25% 62,728 51,111 23% Chemical 1,089 574 90% 16,009 8,144 97% Plastics and Rubbers 10,926 9,068 20% 187,441 161,266 16% Wood/Pulp 4,756 7,563 -37% 77,999 143,705 -46% Textile 10,416 8,709 20% 197,263 184,066 7% Mineral and Stone 1,728 1,536 13% 28,283 26,861 5% Steel 2,843 2,195 30% 48,265 41,222 17% Electronics 4,998 3,992 25% 75,942 62,908 21% Furniture 8,284 10,282 -19% 130,198 178,731 -27% All U.S. Imports 104,145 84,011 24% 1,725,019 1,525,246 13% Gulf Coast Ports Week 19 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 15, 2010 Week Ending May 15, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 803 567 42% 14,309 11,600 23% Autos and Parts 221 132 67% 4,449 3,419 30% Chemical 165 87 90% 2,611 2,037 28% Plastics and Rubbers 473 361 31% 10,333 7,470 38% Wood/Pulp 226 458 -51% 4,918 9,754 -50% Textile 318 218 46% 6,779 6,178 10% Mineral and Stone 310 185 68% 5,467 4,217 30% Steel 666 424 57% 10,865 14,018 -22% Electronics 542 372 46% 10,373 7,520 38% Furniture 263 216 22% 3,690 4,440 -17% All U.S. Imports 7,766 5,788 34% 140,830 130,878 8% Other Ports Week 19 Cumulative Year to Date Week Ending May 15, 2010 Week Ending May 15, 2010 2010 2009 Change 2010 2009 Change Food and Beverage 369 268 38% 6,899 5,594 23% Autos and Parts 144 102 41% 1,800 2,840 -37% Chemical 31 21 48% 691 457 51% Plastics and Rubbers 226 240 -6% 4,752 4,712 1% Wood/Pulp 104 149 -30% 3,249 3,320 -2% Textile 324 309 5% 5,968 5,921 1% Mineral and Stone 56 75 -25% 1,125 1,272 -12% Steel 167 55 204% 2,026 1,763 15% Electronics 47 51 -8% 1,316 1,358 -3% Furniture 119 189 -37% 2,544 4,832 -47% All U.S. Imports 2,797 2,736 2% 56,109 58,078 -3%