Zepol Corporation, the leading trade intelligence company, reports that U.S. import shipment volume for January, measured in TEUs, increased 13.4% from December, and rose 5.8% from January of 2011. The total number of inbound shipments also increased 12% from December and 6.4% from January of last year. The rise in January 2012 imports is similar to 2011's data which also saw a significant increase in January from December of 8.5%. However, this trend was opposite in 2010 and 2009 which both fell in January from December numbers. Key Statistics from this Month's Update:
  • TEU imports from China rose 20% in January from December, while Japanese imports dropped 11.7%. Total TEUs for Asia in January increased by 17%. Imports from Europe were also up 3% in January with significant rises from the countries of Spain and Turkey, which posted TEU increases of 12% and 34% respectively from December.
  • All of the top-ten ports increased in TEU imports in January. The number one port for January was Los Angeles, which saw a 12.5% rise in TEUs. The port of Savannah, GA witnessed a notable increase of 26% in January, as well as the port of Seattle which increased 19% from December.

    • For master carriers, the overall rise in shipments was seen in every top carrier for January. Specifically Maersk Line, which had a 17.5% growth from December. APL also had a large increase from the previous month of 22%, a happy spike compared to APL's 13% drop from November to December. The Mediterranean Shipping Company saw a lull in November to December as well, but a 13.5% increase in January, which is the common trend for overall U.S. imports from 2011 to 2012.