Tag: imports

The Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates suggests that after a year of fluctuations driven by the uncertainty of the trade war with China, volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to return to its usual seasonal patterns during the first few months of 2020.

According to Reuters, China's monthly nickel ore imports from Indonesia marked a rise to a near six-year high in November, as buyers were in a rush to acquire as much ore as they could, towards the ban of Indonesia exports which will come into effect from this month.

Major US container ports saw an increase at volumes in November because retailers imported merchandise ahead of the new tariffs that will come into force in December, following US President Trump's announcement that a deal between China and US will be achieved after finalize a new round of tariffs on consumer goods on December 15.

After 11 months of 2019, total volumes have increased .4% in the Port of Los Angeles- America’s premier port- compared to its record-braking 2018. In a statement, it is said that the Port moved 728,918 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in November, a 12.4% decrease compared to last year.

The Port of Hamburg handled 7 million TEUs on container services since the begging of the year, marking a 6.9% increase in its volume. As the German port announced, a big part of its growth was down to the four new transatlantic services and four new Baltic feeder services.

Given that China is considered to be one of the biggest coal buyer in global, its coal imports per year are estimated between 200 million and 300 million tons. According to the president of a top industry body, there is an allegation that the rate of shipments during the last two months of 2019 could slow down, setting new level standards for the following years.

The Port of Los Angeles managed less containers of imported goods in September, following the ongoing trade war between the US and China, as the US sanctions affected the port given that it is the busiest one for ocean trade with China, as Reuters reports.

According to Reuters, traders are beginning to look for booking vessels or shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG), as they expect that winter demand will increase prices for spot cargoes, which are trading near record lows.

The International Energy Agency expects that China and the US will become world's biggest LNG exporters and importers in five years. The US will surpass Australia's and Qatar's LNG exports in 2024, Reuters reports.