Houston — The joint Port of New York & New Jersey posted a 16.9% year-on-year increase in container throughput for the month of January, the highest January on record, the port said March 11.
The seaport moved 721,284 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in January, compared with 617,024 TEU moved the same month last year.
Of these, loaded imports were counted at 371,392 TEU, up just over 15% on year.
"Consumer spending in the US continued to drive demand for goods, leading to higher volume for imports," the port said in a statement March 11.
At the same time, loaded exported TEUs were down 8.2% to 108,738. But empty exports grew to 239,509 TEUs as ocean carriers prioritized quick container repositions to address the growing backlog of cargo in Asian exporting hubs.
"Export empties increased by over 33%, reflecting the high demand to return empty containers to global manufacturing centers so they can be reused for future imports" the port said.
S&P Global Platts Container Rate 5 – North Asia to East Coast North America – remained steady March 11 at $5,200/FEU.
