Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 11
of automotive exports grew. The country
is expanding its trade relationships with
Argentina, Brazil and China. There was
also a healthy influx of foreign direct
investment and remittances at the end of
2016.
U.S. Economic Indicators
U.S. and Canadian Container Trade
Capacity Utilization - Mfg.
U.S. imports began 2017 with a modest
gain of 1.6% in the first quarter. This is
well below the 3.7% average advancement
in full year 2016; however, imports are
expected to improve in the remaining
quarters. It's unclear exactly what's behind
the slow growth in Q1. It may be the case
that fewer imports were needed due to
already high inventory levels at the end
of the last year. Also, Canada and Mexico
numbers are not yet available and growth
rates may show improvement once
the full numbers come in. Part of the
decline may have to do with the drop
in consumer spending resulting from a
milder winter. In January, expenditures
on goods and services both fell.
16Q1
16Q2
16Q3
16Q4
17Q1
Gross Domestic Product (SAAR)
0.8%
1.4%
3.5%
2.1%
0.9%
Merchandise Imports (SAAR)
-1.3%
0.0%
0.5%
10.9%
6.2%
Industrial Production - Mfg. (vs. LY)
0.6%
0.2%
-0.1%
0.4%
1.4%
75.7%
75.4%
75.3%
75.4%
76.1%
Retail Sales (Excl. Autos, vs. LY)
2.2%
2.9%
2.4%
3.9%
5.7%
Inventory/Sales Ratio - All Business
1.41
1.40
1.39
1.36
1.37
Housing Starts (Millions, SAAR)
1.15
1.16
1.14
1.25
1.25
Trade Weighted Value $ (1973=100)
99.3
96.9
97.8
101.0
101.8
Canadian Economic Indicators
16Q1
16Q2
16Q3
16Q4
17Q1
Gross Domestic Product (SAAR)
2.7%
-1.2%
3.8%
2.6%
4.0%
Imports (SAAR)
3.5%
1.1%
4.8%
-13.5%
4.8%
Exports (SAAR)
9.3%
-14.8%
9.4%
1.3%
6.3%
Industrial Production - Mfg. (vs. LY)
-1.2%
-2.5%
0.2%
2.4%
3.2%
Retail Sales (vs. Last Year)
5.5%
3.5%
2.4%
3.7%
2.9%
Housing Starts (Thousands, SAAR)
U.S. $/Canadian $
180.3
$0.73
185.9
$0.78
189.7
$0.77
201.2
$0.75
189.3
$0.76
Even though total U.S. container import
Mexican Economic Indicators
volumes gained 1.6% in Q1, there were
wide variations across regions. In general,
16Q1
16Q2
16Q3
16Q4
17Q1
container import growth was stronger on
Gross Domestic Product (SAAR)
1.9%
0.4%
4.3%
2.9%
0.2%
the East Coast than on the West Coast:
Imports (SAAR)
-4.7%
-0.7%
9.9%
-2.2%
5.7%
U.S. East Coast ports gained 3.5% in
Exports (SAAR)
-3.1%
-8.4%
16.7%
4.3%
7.9%
Q1, while U.S. West Coast ports actually
Industrial Production - Mfg. (vs. LY)
0.4%
-0.2%
-0.8%
0.0%
-0.5%
declined 0.5%. Still, there was a wide
variation in growth rates for specific port
Mexican Peso / U.S. $
$18.04 $18.09 $18.78 $19.80 $20.32
regions. On the East Coast, the Northeast
SAAR = Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of growth from prior quarter. Some Q1 2017
ports saw their volumes rise by a scant
figures are preliminary estimates.
1.5%, while container imports at Gulf
ports climbed 14.6%. Growth was more
Export data for Q1 2017 is not available yet. Q4 exports reached
consistent across the port regions in the U.S. West. In fact,
3.1% gains for the U.S., rounding out the year with 1.7% growth.
the Northwest, Northern Californian and Southern Californian
While the East Coast saw a 1.2% contraction in exports, the
regions all recorded slight declines.
West Coast made up for it with 9.7% improvement in Q4 and
8.0% for the year.
The U.S. container import data also signals that there were
wide variations across commodities. Forest products and
furniture saw larger import gains, growing 8.1% and 5.9%,
respectively. While furniture came in slightly below overall 2016
growth, 2017 advancement in forest products surpassed the
2016 growth rate of 4.8%. Footwear shipments fell by 3.6% in
the first quarter, tracking closely with a 3.7% decline for 2016.
Apparel did slightly better, falling only 3.1% in the beginning of
the year. Auto parts saw the biggest drop at 6.0%, likely due to
strong comparisons in 2016 Q1.
Canadian exports rose 4.8% in Q4 2016. Canadian imports
improved in each quarter of 2016, turning positive in Q3 and
growing by 10.5% in Q4. Import growth was consistently positive
in 2015, eliminating the possibility of weak comparisons.
In Mexico, imports gained 8.9% in Q4, in spite of a severely
weakened exchange rate. Exports jumped 15.9% in the fourth
quarter, bringing export growth to 5.7% for full year 2016. This
may be due somewhat to weak comparisons, as Mexican
exports were negative for three quarters in 2015.
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics Report | First Quarter 2017 | © IANA 2017 11
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017
Key Take-Aways
First Quarter 2017 Rail Volume Results
Seasonally Adjusted Intermodal Volume
Key Corridor Results
Intermodal Outlook
First Quarter 2017 IMC Results
Intermodal Long-Term Trends
Trucking Industry Outlook
U.S., Canada and Mexico Domestic Economies
Equipment Moves by Type, Ownership and Size
Eastern Canada
Mountain Central
Midwest
Mexico
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
South Central
Southwest
Western Canada
Major Intermodal Corridors
Data Providers
Region Map
Notes to Report
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Key Take-Aways
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - First Quarter 2017 Rail Volume Results
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 3
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Key Corridor Results
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 5
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Intermodal Outlook
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Intermodal Long-Term Trends
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Trucking Industry Outlook
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 9
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - U.S., Canada and Mexico Domestic Economies
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - 11
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Equipment Moves by Type, Ownership and Size
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Mountain Central
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Mexico
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Northwest
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - South Central
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Western Canada
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Major Intermodal Corridors
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Region Map
Intermodal Market Trends & Statistics - 1st Quarter 2017 - Notes to Report
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2018q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2017q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2016q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2015q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2014q1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/iana/imts_2013q4
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