Container exports from 10 major countries and regions in Asia to the U.S. (based on volumes at ports of loading) increased 1.4% to 1,435,565 TEUs in May, registering a year-on-year improvement for three months in a row, according to statistics released by U.S. research firm Descartes Datamyne. In the first five months (January-May), they rose a minute 0.9% to 6,499,909 TEUs.
Looking at containers moved from Asia to the U.S. in May by origin, the Descartes Datamyne statistics, which had been compiled with Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and bill of lading (B/L) data provided by the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP), indicated that those from China decreased 3.5% to 839,748 TEUs, suffering a year-on-year contraction for the fourth consecutive month, but managed to maintain the leading share of the pie. Ranked second were those from South Korea, which increased 2.3% to 159,772 TEUs. Finished in third and fourth places, containerized shipments from Taiwan and Vietnam both swelled notably, surging 17.7% to 89,498 TEUs and 25.9% to 89,062 TEUs, respectively. Exports from Japan fell 7.3% to 39,412 TEUs, but including those transshipped, the total (based on volumes at ports of discharge) was up 0.7% to 54,538 TEUs.
As for the top 10 commodities, machinery, auto-related products, steel products and others declines, but furniture, electronic appliances and plastic were brisk.
