New milestone for imports into the USA
Descartes Systems Group’s ‘Global Shipping Report’ for January reveals robust December 2024 US container import volumes of almost 2.4 million teu, marking a 12.4% year-on-year increase and solidifying 2024 as a record-breaking year, with a total of 28.2 million teu, a 13% rise over 2023.
Despite strong import activity, transit delays in many top US ports remained relatively unchanged. Imports from China grew by 1.7% from November and by 14.5% from December 2023, highlighting continued Sino-US trade strength.
While 2024 demonstrated resilience, potential challenges for early 2025 include tariff changes, labour negotiations and geopolitical instability. Seasonal factors and holiday timing contributed to slight monthly volume variations. Descartes highlights the need for proactive strategies to address emerging supply chain risks. (pb)