Port Freight Traffic Fell to Five-Year Low in March

Washington, DC, April 8, 2020-Traffic at major U.S. container ports fell to its lowest level in five years during March, reports Furniture Today, based on estimates from the monthly Global Port Tracker report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Imports are projected to remain significantly below normal levels through early summer as the coronavirus pandemic continues," reports the publication.

“‘Even as factories in China have begun to get back to work, we are seeing far fewer imports coming into the United States than previously expected,’ NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said in a release. Many stores are closed, and consumer demand has been impacted with millions of Americans out of work. However, there are still many essential items that are badly needed, and because of store closures, cargo may sit longer than usual and cause other supply chain impacts.’

“U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.51 million twenty-foot equivalent units in February, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 17 % from January and down 6.8% year-over-year.”