Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Retail Container Traffic Close to Flat through July

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to remain at about the same levels as last year through July before starting to resume increases later this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates

by Staff
June 16, 2011
2 min to read


Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is expected to remain at about the same levels as last year through July before starting to resume increases later this summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.


"With rising gas prices and challenges in the labor and housing markets, consumer spending has slowed and retailers have adjusted their inventory levels accordingly," said NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold. "We are confident long-term consumer demand will grow, and that imports will pick up significantly in the fall."

U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.22 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in April, the latest month for which numbers are available. That was up 12 percent from March and 7 percent from April 2010. It was the 17th month in a row to show a year-over-year improvement after December 2009 broke a 28-month streak of year-over-year declines. (One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.)

May was estimated at 1.27 million TEU, only one-third of 1 percent over May 2010. June is forecast at 1.33 million TEU, a 1 percent increase from a year ago; July at 1.39 million TEU, up one-half of 1 percent from last year; August at 1.47 million TEU, up 3 percent; September at 1.49 million TEU, up 12 percent; and October at 1.54 million TEU, up 19 percent. August through October are traditionally the busiest months of the year as retailers stock up for the holiday season.

The first half of 2011 is forecast at 7.2 million TEU, up 5 percent from the first half of 2010. Global Port Tracker forecasts only six months beyond actual numbers, so a forecast for the full year is not yet available. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16 percent increase over 2009.

"2011 is turning out to be an uncertain year for shipping," Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said. "The good news for the coming few months is that inventories are too low, which will generate shipping demand as the supply chain moves to re-stock, albeit cautiously."

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.

More Fleet Management

Graphic with light bulbs, HDT Truck Fleet Innovators logo, and the word Nominations
Fleet ManagementMay 15, 2026

Deadline Extended for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators Nominations

Heavy Duty Trucking has extended the deadline for nominations for its Truck Fleet Innovators awards. The deadline has been extended to May 22.

Read More →
Illustration of U.S. Supreme Court building and a truck crash

Supreme Court Ruling Puts Freight Broker Vetting Practices in Spotlight

The unanimous SCOTUS ruling in the closely watched Montgomery v. Caribe case allows state negligence claims against freight brokers that hire unsafe motor carriers, raising new liability and vetting concerns among brokers.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo

FMCSA’s Motus System Is Coming. What Fleets Need to Know Now

FMCSA's long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls. And there are steps you need to take by May 14.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fleet Advantage Generative AI study.

Fleet Advantage: Fleets Embrace Generative AI, but Data Problems Limit Operational Gains

New Fleet Advantage research shows generative AI adoption has exploded among private fleets. But poor data integration and weak ROI tracking are preventing fleets from unlocking AI’s full operational and financial value.

Read More →
Phillips Connect extends Nussbaum trailer life.

How Phillips Connect Helped Nussbaum Transportation Double its Trailer Life

Seven years into deploying Phillips Connect’s smart trailer platform, Nussbaum Transportation has extended trailer life from 10 to 15 years.

Read More →
Lance Evans, Director of Safety at K&B Transportation.

Inside Modern Fleet Safety: AI, Cameras & Speed Control at K&B Transportation

How a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
TEN disaster prep.
Fleet ManagementMay 1, 2026

How Fleets Can Avoid Equipment Blind Spots in Disaster Response

When the unexpected happens, how you react to, and deal with operational blind spots is critical. Here’s how to keep you recovery on track, when nothing is normal.

Read More →
Illustration of cybersecurity images with "The Cyber Stop" text
Fleet Managementby Ben WilkensApril 30, 2026

AI Security Risks for Trucking Fleets: What to Know About Deepfakes and Agentic AI

As fleets adopt artificial intelligence for routing, maintenance, and load matching, new security risks are emerging. Learn where the vulnerabilities are and how to put the right controls in place.

Read More →
CargoNet 2026 Qi report.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 24, 2026

Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks

CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with trojan horse and lock with inside of cargo container in background
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems

Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.

Read More →