Oct US container import volumes strain maritime logistics: Descartes

October 2024 import volumes were up by 8.1 per cent year on year (YoY) and by 20.5 per cent over pre-pandemic 2019 figures. For the first ten months this year, volumes grew by 13.1 per cent YoY and by 16.9 per cent over the same period in 2019.

By contrast, volumes for the first 10 months of 2023 grew by just 3.4 per cent over 2019, underscoring again the impressive performance of container imports in 2024, a release from Descartes said citing the report.

At seven of the top 10 US ports, transit time delays increased in October this year, including at the top five East and Gulf Coast ports, where port operations were disrupted by the three-day International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) strike at the beginning of the month.

The October update of the logistics metrics monitored by Descartes underscores the robust performance of container imports throughout 2024; however, elevated volumes, increasing transit time delays at top ports, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East may put pressure on global supply chains throughout the balance of the year.

October volumes remain elevated, though diverge slightly from traditional month-on-month (MoM) seasonal increase. The small MoM decrease of 1 per cent could have stemmed from contingency planning for labour unrest at East and Gulf Coast ports and more front-loading of volumes by US importers from August to September.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)