Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Economy
Imports and Exports
International
Logistics

US retail imports rise after three-year slump

09 May 2023 - by Staff reporter
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

US retail import levels are continuing to rise steadily after hitting a three-year slump at the start of 2023.

However, the National Retail Federation (NRF) has once again lowered its forecasts, cutting its projections for the second quarter and the first half of 2023, Maritime Executive reports.

The NRF has forecast that imports will remain below peak 2022 levels, at least into the third quarter of this year.

The latest Global Port Tracker update is now forecasting first-half 2023 import levels at 10.4 million TEU, a 22.8% decrease from the first half of 2022 and a drop of nearly 4% from its previous projections.

Import volumes for the second quarter are now forecast to hit 5.46 million TEU at the major US container ports compared to its earlier forecasts of 5.76 and 5.79 million TEU in the second quarter.

"Consumers are still spending, and retail sales are expected to increase this year, but we're not seeing the explosive demand we saw in the past two years," said Jonathan Gold, NRF vice president for supply chain and customs policy.

"Congestion at the ports has largely gone away as import levels have fallen, but other supply chain challenges remain, ranging from trucker shortages to getting empty containers back to terminals," Gold said.

The NRF expects import levels will remain well below last year's levels heading into the fall of 2023.

However, logistics company Descartes Systems Group said overall US container import volumes in April 2023 increased significantly from March 2023, largely driven by a surge in Chinese imports.

April volumes kept pace with pre-pandemic 2019 volumes as imports from China reversed their downward trend and are up 26.7% compared to March 2023.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

CTCT’s new RTGs – almost ready to go into operation

Logistics
10 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Industry operations centre to track FMD in real time

Logistics

Red meat industry sets up virtual tracking and mapping of foot-and-mouth disease to stem continued spread.

10 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Crew evacuate blazing box ship

Sea Freight

Four crew members are still missing and two were seriously injured after the on-board explosion.

10 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Pilchards vs poultry – can the MDM crisis be avoided?

Imports and Exports

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has indicated that it’s investigating localising the ban.

10 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Bulk Handler believes it has what it takes to expand further

Logistics
Skills & Training
Technology

The company has design and manufacturing facilities in Italy, Germany and Australia.

10 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Surcharges coming through as sea freight volatility continues

Sea Freight

In Europe, port congestion remains a critical issue with many carriers avoiding Rotterdam.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Green economy exposure threatens SA exports

Imports and Exports
Logistics
Sustainability

422 000 local jobs currently depend on exports to jurisdictions with active or incoming CBAMs.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

KZN ports: now for the good news

Logistics
Sea Freight

Transnet signed a R285 million agreement with Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture to develop a new Richards Bay container handling facility.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Shipwreckers unite industry, raise R75 000 for charity

Logistics

“This wasn’t just a party; it was a purpose-driven celebration.” – Post-event statement.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Exports to Lesotho face new regulation rollout from July

Africa
Imports and Exports
Logistics

Previously it seemed agents were hoping Asycuda would cause RSL to pull the plug on TIN.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Vessel abandonment cases surge 33%

Sea Freight

Hundreds of seafarers were left unpaid and without food, water or access to ports – often for months at a time.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments

Salvage team heads to abandoned Alaska cargo ship

Sea Freight

A second tug with advanced firefighting capabilities is being mobilised to attend the scene of the fire.

09 Jun 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Road & Rail 27 June 2025

Border Beat

Forum tightens net against border corruption
25 Jun 2025
Police clamp down on cross-border crime
17 Jun 2025
Zim's anti-smuggling measures delay legitimate freight operations
06 Jun 2025
More

Poll

Has South Africa's ports turned the corner?

Featured Jobs

New

Multi-Modal Controller

Tiger Recruitment
JHB North
27 Jun

Commercial Manager

Lee Botti & Associates
Durban
25 Jun
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us