We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • CSCMP EDGE 2023
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • CSCMP EDGE 2023
    • Upload Your Video
Home » Imports rise at maritime ports as warehouses restock after Covid shutdown

Imports rise at maritime ports as warehouses restock after Covid shutdown

But total volumes are still down from 2019 levels, as ports say pandemic impact will persist until vaccine is discovered.

south carolina ports
August 13, 2020
DC Velocity Staff
No Comments

As some regions of the country begin to reopen their economies after coronavirus shutdowns, U.S. retailers are restocking dwindling inventories in warehouses, a trend that has led to rising import volumes at maritime ports.

At the Port of Oakland, that trend led to an increase in containerized import shipments of 6.4% in July compared to 2019 totals, after a 1.9% increase in June. That increase came after four straight months of declines between February and June, during the early stages of the global coronavirus pandemic.

But the Port cautioned against reading too much into the results. “It’s good to see an uptick in cargo activity,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes said in a Wednesday release. “But we’re not doing any victory celebrations because the trade outlook remains unclear as long as the pandemic is with us.”

For example, export volume at the California port has now dropped in three consecutive months, including a 6.4% decline in July, compared to July 2019. And overall, the port said its year-to-date total cargo volume is down 5.8% from 2019, due primarily to a nearly 10% drop in shipments of empty cargo containers back to origin destinations.

Similar results happened on the east coast, where the South Carolina Ports Authority had a record July for vehicles, handling 25,128 vehicles at its Columbus Street Terminal last month for a 47% jump year-over-year. The port also said it moved 99,431 pier containers in July, which measures boxes of any size, for an increase of 12% from June.

But those numbers represent an incremental recovery from the huge impact of how the pandemic disrupted businesses globally in recent months, and the port said its volume is still down compared to 2019.

“We are encouraged by some signs of an initial rebound in our container and automotive volumes, as well as an increase in imports and a decline in blank sailings,” S.C. Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome said in a release. “However, a more substantial recovery is dependent on the duration and intensity of the economic impacts from the pandemic, and ultimately, on a vaccine. We are hopeful for a stronger rebound throughout fiscal year 2021.”

Transportation Maritime & Ocean
KEYWORDS Port of Oakland South Carolina Ports Authority
    • Related Articles

      9 Tips for a Lean and Secure Plant After the COVID-19 Imposed Shutdown

      Imports soar at nation's ports amid peak shipping prep, trade wars

      Ports, maritime operators see tide turning as ocean freight tsunami subsides

    Recent Articles by DC Velocity Staff

    TJC acquires fast-growing Dutch maritime spare parts logistics firm

    Kuehne+Nagel acquires Candian customs broker Farrow

    U.S. cargo theft rates on track for slight-to-moderate rise in 2023

    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Most Popular Articles

    • Warehouse renters could see “significant” rate increases in 2024, Prologis says

    • MercuryGate acquires cross-border customs clearance specialist ITS

    • DHL Supply Chain to add five more AS/RS installations from AutoStore

    • Yes, your SMB can afford AMRs

    • A new outlook that’s a lot like the old outlook

    Now Playing on DCV-TV

    86b12a2a 86fa 4a93 85e6 c5470638a478

    Want to Increase Your Profitability by 1%? Then Ask: Is Your Company’s Supply Chain an Asset or an Anchor?

    DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    When supply chains are viewed as an asset instead of an anchor, companies are more likely to invest in optimizing them because of how it can impact their financial results. There are numerous articles talking about how companies have invested in their supply chains and it yielded substantial savings – savings in...

    FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

    • Exploring Forklift Energy Solutions for Maximum ROI

    • Identifying How Sortation Automation Can Address Challenges for Parcel Processors

    • Quarterly Freight Data Report: Q3 2023

    • Achieve Higher Performance with a Voice Directed Automated Warehouse

    View More

    Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

    GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • ADVERTISING
    • CUSTOMER CARE
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • STAFF
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing