Insights - April 2016 - (Page 9)

2014-2016 YEARLY TRAFFIC TOTALS BY MONTH Source: IANA Equipment Type, Size and Ownership data file Eﬀective January 2016, IANA data and statistics products began providing a more comprehensive picture of North America's intermodal business through coverage that includes movements into, out of and within Mexico. For more information, visit www.intermodal.org or contact Art Cleaver at 301-982-3400, ext. 346. Freight Reports Retail Imports Building According to the March 8 Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, the nation's top containerports handled 1.5 million TEUs in January 2016, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 4.4 percent from December and 21.4 percent from unusually low figures in January 2015, the month before a new contract with dockworkers was signed to end a near shutdown at West Coast ports. February was estimated at 1.4 million TEUs, up 17.1 percent from the same month in 2015 and also skewed by last year's congestion. Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports should see its traditional buildup toward the sum- mer. This is despite difficult comparisons with last year's unusual patterns, the NRF report adds. "Comparisons are still complicated because of last year's situation at the West Coast ports but should clear up in the second half of the year," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy at NRF. "Year-over-year numbers are skewed, but on a monthly basis imports are building normally as the back-toschool season approaches." With cargo volume down so far this year, Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, said recent decisions by major shipping lines to add new super large capacity vessels to routes between Asia and the U.S. West Coast are likely to bring lower shipping rates at the risk of "chaos" in the balance between supply and demand. "Does this make sense? Absolutely not," Hackett said. "It flies in the face of financial and economic wisdom and totally ignores the state of the freight market." Global Port Tracker covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami on the East Coast; and Houston on the Gulf Coast. Containers Surge in YoY Growth Total intermodal volumes posted a 14.6 percent gain in February. Domestic and international container increases of 13.8 and 23.4 percent respectively more than offset another drop in trailer movements of 21.1 percent. Comparisons are impacted by last year's West Port congestion issues. Year-to-date growth stands at 6.8 percent. For information on subscribing to IANA's Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics, including 2015 fourth quarter and year-end results, go to www.intermodal.org. Effective January 2016, IANA's IMTS includes expanded information on Mexican intermodal movements. Freight - continued on page 11 April 2016 | Intermodal Insights 9 http://www.intermodal.org http://www.intermodal.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - April 2016

Insights - April 2016
FMCSA Proposes New “High Risk” Definition
ITC Makes Initial Affirmative Determination
New CDL Training Requirements Proposed
IANA, 25 Years and Counting
IANA Welcomes New Director of Education
New Committee Leadership
Sustainability News
Gate Control – Information Is King
State Legislative Update
Freight Reports
Port News
People in the News
2016 Sponsors
In Brief
Welcome New Members
Intermodal Calendar

Insights - April 2016