Trade and Transportation by the Numbers

South Africa Trade Surplus at 8-Month High as Mine Exports Rise

Bloomberg | September 30, 2019 | International Trade | By The Numbers

South Africa’s trade balance swung to its biggest surplus in eight months in August as mining exports surged.

Most wind capacity in the United States is designed for a medium wind speed environment

AJOT | September 27, 2019 | Energy | Alternative | By The Numbers

Most wind turbines in the United States were designed for medium wind environments, according to data collected in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Electric Generator Report. Wind design classes, as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), range from Class 1 (high wind) to Class 4 (very low wind).

Saudi Arabia crude oil production outage affects global crude oil and gasoline prices

AJOT | September 23, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

On Saturday, September 14, 2019, an attack damaged the Saudi Aramco Abqaiq oil processing facility and the Khurais oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia.

FTR Trucking Conditions Index for July improved to a reading above neutral

AJOT | September 19, 2019 | Intermodal | Trucking | By The Numbers

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index for July improved slightly to a just above neutral reading of 0.28. Lower diesel prices offset the effects of lower capacity utilization pushing the reading into positive territory for the first time since January.

Demand dips after Dorian

AJOT | September 18, 2019 | Intermodal | Trucking | By The Numbers

Truckload markets sprang into action as Hurricane Dorian attacked the East Coast. But since the storm passed, so too has the urgency to move freight. Last week load-to-truck ratios fell for vans and reefers, but reconstruction efforts boosted flatbed demand. The charts below show the national average rates for the month to date, including fuel surcharges. Explore Trendlines for more information.

Wind energy lifts Great Lakes shipping in August

The St. Lawrence Seaway reported gains in traditional and project cargo for the month of August. Year-to-date total cargo shipments for the period from March 22, 2019 through August 31, 2019 were 20.9 million metric tons, a decrease of just over 3 percent compared to 2018.

U.S. Great Lakes ports report busy August

AJOT | September 17, 2019 | Ports & Terminals | Canal and Waterway | By The Numbers

Despite these areas of strength, cargo volumes via the bi-national St. Lawrence Seaway (from March 22 to August 31) at 20.9 million metric tons were down 3.5 percent compared to the same period in 2018.

First indication of air cargo trend in August 2019

AJOT | September 17, 2019 | Air Cargo | General | By The Numbers

In a WorldACD Trends message two weeks ago, they reported Year-on-Year (YoY) growth for chargeable weight of -4.2% for July 2019.

Underwriters take action to address continuing unprofitability

AJOT | September 17, 2019 | Maritime | Liner Shipping | By The Numbers

Speaking at today's IUMI annual conference in Toronto, Canada, Sean Dalton, Chair of IUMI's Cargo Committee reported a 2.5% increase in 2018 global premiums to USD 16.6 billion.

EIA releases plant-level U.S. biodiesel production capacity data

AJOT | September 16, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

On September 13, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its first annual U.S. Biodiesel Plant Production Capacity Report.

U.S. Census Bureau: Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales

AJOT | September 16, 2019 | International Trade | By The Numbers

U.S. total business end-of-month inventories for July 2019 were $2,042.6 billion, up 0.4 percent (+/- 0.1 percent) from last month. U.S. total business sales were $1,462.9 billion, up 0.3 percent (+/-0.1 percent) from last month. July 2019: +0.4 % change in Inventories June 2019 (r): 0.0* % change in Inventories (*) The 90% confidence interval includes zero. The Census Bureau does not have sufficient statistical evidence to conclude that the actual change is different from zero. (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable for these surveys. The Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders estimates are not based on a probability sample, so we can neither measure the sampling error of these estimates nor compute confidence intervals. (r) Revised.

Truckload linehaul rates go negative

AJOT | September 16, 2019 | Intermodal | Trucking | By The Numbers

After more than two years of year-over-year increases in truckload linehaul rates, the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index® went negative in August (-2.6%). It also fell 6.9% sequentially.

Coal shipments to the U.S. power sector continue to fall

AJOT | September 13, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) power sector surveys, more than 75% of the coal delivered to the power sector last year was shipped either completely or in part by rail; the remainder was shipped by river barge, truck, and other methods.

Natural gas-fired power generation has grown in Florida, displacing coal

AJOT | September 09, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

Florida added nearly 16 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale natural gas-fired electric generation between 2008 and 2018, about one-quarter (24%) of all U.S. natural gas installations during this time and the most of any state.

Permian gas flaring drops for the first time in years

AJOT | September 04, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

Flaring of gas in the Permian Basin in the US in the first quarter of 2019 dropped for the first time in 1.5 years, according to Rystad Energy.

FIS Air Freight Report September 2, 2019

AJOT | September 03, 2019 | By The Numbers

China to Europe spot rates continue to sink beyond the August levels, with the basket dropping a further 3 cents. This softening has since lost momentum over the past few weeks, with the forward market pricing in a slower price rise at the end of Q3. Q4 is still uncertain, with forward market trading activity unlikely to build until the end of September.

Dreary: Reefer container equipment availability to remain tight

AJOT | September 03, 2019 | Maritime | Liner Shipping | By The Numbers

Reefer container equipment availability will remain tight over the next few years which will impact shipping capacity supply and freight rates at seasonal peaks, according to Drewry’s latest Reefer Shipping Annual Review and Forecast 2019/20 report, published this month.

DAT: Pricing remains stable in late summer

AJOT | September 03, 2019 | By The Numbers

Truckload rates remained stable on the spot market, with gains and losses largely offsetting each other across the country. Load-to-truck ratios fell for vans, reefers, and flatbeds, but that trend could reverse as we approach Labor Day.

Average U.S. construction costs for solar generation continue to decrease

AJOT | September 03, 2019 | Energy | Alternative | By The Numbers

According to 2017 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) for newly constructed utility-scale electric generators in the United States, annual capacity-weighted average construction costs for solar photovoltaic systems continued to decrease.

U.S. retail gasoline prices heading into Labor Day are lower than last year

AJOT | August 30, 2019 | Energy | By The Numbers

The U.S. average retail price for all formulations of regular gasoline on August 26, 2019, was $2.57 per gallon (gal), 25 cents/gal (9%) lower than the price at the same time last year. This

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