Socio-Economics History Blog

Socio-Economics History Blog

Container Shipping Traffic from China to the US is in Freefall

by mosesman

  • See also:
    –
    China to US shipping slump deepens as peak season fades early
    It’s not just Chinese imports. Peak season freight trade bound for U.S. slows to a crawl
    –
  • Container Shipping Traffic from China to the US is in Freefall
    by https://halturnerradioshow.com/
    Thanksgiving is later this month and Christmas is only 49 days away; the biggest shopping season of the year is coming, but . . . . . . The cargo vessel count from China to the US has dropped to 41, the lowest since February 2024.
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    The number of large cargo ships has declined -30, or -42%, over the last 3 weeks. This is well below the average of ~60 over the last 18 months. As a result, total cargo volumes have HALVED to ~300,000 TEUs, where one TEU equals a standard shipping container, the lowest since at least January 2024. Combined cargo volumes from all major Asian exporters have also fallen to ~700,000 TEUs, the lowest since February 2024.
    –
    Of course retailers placed their Christmas orders around the middle of Summer, and shipping of most of that took place in August-September, arriving in October.  So a decline in shipping is not abnormal, but these numbers  are not merely a “decline” they’re a cliff.  Very abnormal. US-China trade is rapidly slowing.

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