U.S. containerized imports fell 2.5 percent in March, the first year-to-year decline in 16 months, as a weak housing market contributed to a drop in imports from Asia.
Volume measured in 20-foot-equivalent units was down 11 percent from China, 22 percent from Hong Kong and 9 percent from Japan, where shipments were affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to Journal of Commerce sister company PIERS.
Imports of furniture, by far the largest containerized commodity, tumbled 17 percent in March.
The fall in imports from Japan was mainly due to a 13 percent plunge in inbound shipments of auto parts, and declines of 12 percent in imports of tires and 8 percent in engines and motors. Although Japan is the largest source of U.S. auto parts imports, this category rose 17 percent in March, largely because of imports from Germany.
The Journal of Commerce Online
Login
