Global trade data tracked by Descartes indicates that In January 2024, the volume of U.S. imports in the surged by 7.9% compared to December 2023, marking the most substantial month-over-month growth for January in the past seven years. The increase was largely...
Global Shipping Report: December U.S. Container Import Volumes Rise 0.4% from November while Port Transit Times Increase
In December 2023, the volume of container imports in the United States grew 0.4% over November 2023. Despite modest growth, there were noteworthy fluctuations in volume observed at ports along the West, East, and Gulf Coasts. Notably, major ports on the East and Gulf...
U.S. November Import Volumes Down 9% from October while Panama Drought Continues to Impact East and Gulf Coast Ports
In November 2023, U.S. container imports fell 9% from October, particularly affecting East and Gulf Coast ports. This decline aligns with past year-end trends and includes a slightly faster drop in imports from China. The Panama drought is now impacting U.S. container...
Navigating Global Shipping Data: A Snapshot of U.S. Imports in October 2023 Shows a Break from Pre-Pandemic Trend, Rising 4.7%
In October 2023, U.S. imports witnessed a substantial surge, diverging from pre-pandemic trends and reaching levels beyond those of October 2019. The following trade data insights offer an overview of key developments: U.S. Container Import Growth Import...
Trade War Reshapes U.S. Import Peak Shipping
Waves of new tariffs lifted U.S. waterborne import peak shipping volumes earlier and higher than ever in 2018, while the promise of more to come pushed an atypical December surge. U.S. import peak shipping volumes charted a new course in 2018, driven largely by...
Christmas Tree Imports Rise as Growers Come up Short
This year’s crop of ready-to-cut firs, pines and spruce has fallen short of holiday season demand. Early trade data indicates Christmas tree imports – fresh and artificial – are rising to fill the gap. Nearly 95 million U.S. households will deck the halls with a...
U.S. Beef Exports | Primed for Opening Markets
U.S. beef exports to South Korea passed a billion-dollar milestone in year 5 of the KORUS FTA. Beef exports are primed for more growth as the Chinese and Brazilian markets re-open. U.S. Beef Exports: KORUS FTA Trajectory No market provides a better example of the fall...
Li-ion Batteries Drive Chinese Lithium Imports
Lithium, last year’s hottest metal, looks set to be even hotter in 2017. With the new year barely a day old, mineral exploration company Birimian announced the sale of its Bougouni lithium project in southern Mali to China’s Shandong Mingrui Group. The deal signals...
Out of Luck? Chinese Economy in the Year of the Monkey
The Chinese economy – indeed the world economy – is in for a run of bad luck in the Lunar New Year that begins today, according to feng shui master Chen Shuaifu, who shared his forecast with NBC News. Master Chen forecasts a big slide in the world economy: "The global...
On a Roll: American Lobster Exports
We were surprised to see lobsters break into the top 25 US agricultural exports for the first time in our latest monthly ranking report, based on the value of trade in August. Typically, the ag trade ranking reports are dominated by in-season commodities such as...