Ports Continue to Report Steep Declines in Traffic, Rail Data Seems to Show Bottoming

The port of Los Angeles released data today showing a 12.75% decline in total TEU's (twenty foot equivalent units or 20 foot-long cargo container) year over year in June. (And a 4% decline from May.)



The port of Long Beach released data recently showing a 28.7% decline in total TEUs year over year in June. (A 1.5% decline from May.)



The port of Oakland released data today showing a 14.5% fall in total TEUs year over year in June. (And a 3.6% increase in volume from May.)



The port of Hong Kong released data recently showing a 15.6% decline in total TEUs year over year in June. (Flat from May.)



The port of Marseilles showed a decline in total traffic (by weight) of 7% in June from June 2008. (And a 1.3% decline from May.)



Of course, June is 3% shorter than May, so all things being equal, volumes should drop. Historically, volumes tend to drop, but there's wide variation.

The Railfax report put out today by Atlantic Systems, Inc, seems to show a slight recovery in total volumes for Canada, the US, and Mexico, year over year in 13 week averages for the week ended July 11: