May.14--US containerised imports grew 9.2 per cent in April from March and by per cent year on year, reports trade intelligence company Zepol.
    Imports from China increased by 18.7 per cent from March to April with volume from Hong Kong rising by 22.4 per cent, said the report from the Minnesota-based company.
    But European imports were down 3.1 per cent in April with Belgium showing the deepest plunge at 16.2 per cent and mighty Germany off by 5.9 per cent.
    Data used came from bills of lading entered in the Automated Manifest System, April has shown the highest number of imports, with over 1.52 million TEU imported, and the second largest number of shipments, with 756,000 processed.
    While April imports were high, and summer numbers expected to be higher still, the trend for the past five years has shown further increases in May as well as spikes in July and August, said the report.
    The Port of Savannah posted a 17.7 per cent increase, its biggest gain since September 2011. The Port of Los Angeles increased 14.7 per cent and Newark and New York were up 11 per cent when figures are combined. 
    Every top carrier experienced rises in shipments with Danish giant Maersk Line up 19.4 per cent in March 2012, MSC was up 2.5 per cent and APL in an increase of 20.5 per cent, the largest increase in the top 10.

(Source:shippingazette)