当前位置：新闻动态
Maersk bullish on North American box trade as economy strengthens
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2018/03/02 10:14:36
MAERSK expects the North American container trade to expand this year owing to expected growth in global trade and US consumer spending, as well as the signing of more free trade agreements in Canada.
According to Maersk's first North America Trade Report, the company forecasts total US import and export volumes to increase in a range of two to four per cent this year, with Canadian trade to expected to rise to seven per cent.
Maersk predicts global trade volumes will rise three per cent this year. Strong consumer spending in the US will continue to push up imports, and the Canadian market will reap the benefits of its first full year operating under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Canada is also expected to sign a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
"For the US gains will come from retail, chemicals, consumer electronics and grains sectors but the nation faces a number of home-grown issues as the import-to-export North America Trade Report gap continues to widen," Maersk said in the report.
"The US is facing a trucking crisis, rail infrastructure needs to be updated, terminal competitiveness lags behind other countries, while digital transformation is putting pressure on the way the US does trade - not to mention the bunker fuel hikes and terminal congestions persist.
"Meanwhile, the outlook is more positive for Canada, which promises to be one of the fastest growing markets in terms of container trade across the Americas this year," said the report.
Port terminal operator subsidiary APM Terminals and freight forwarding arm Damco estimate total maritime container volumes to and from the United States grew by 4.7 per cent to 35.04 million TEU in 2017.
US imports surged 6.8 per cent last year to 22.06 million TEU, according to the report, while exports rose just one per cent to 11.98 million TEU.
In the United States, Maersk projects import volumes to grow between three and five per cent in 2018 on the back of accelerating GDP growth, higher wages and lower unemployment rates, all of which should translate into increased consumer spending.
"We are optimistic on US imports this year thanks to strong consumer growth, historically low unemployment and strong consumer confidence," said Maersk Line North America head Christian Pedersen. "Last year far exceeded our growth expectations."
US export volumes, on the other hand, are projected to show only "moderate" growth of up to two per cent, according to the report. Maersk expects exports from the Gulf Coast to grow four per cent in 2018, compared with three per cent export growth from the east coast and one per cent on the west coast.
According to Maersk's first North America Trade Report, the company forecasts total US import and export volumes to increase in a range of two to four per cent this year, with Canadian trade to expected to rise to seven per cent.
Maersk predicts global trade volumes will rise three per cent this year. Strong consumer spending in the US will continue to push up imports, and the Canadian market will reap the benefits of its first full year operating under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Canada is also expected to sign a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
"For the US gains will come from retail, chemicals, consumer electronics and grains sectors but the nation faces a number of home-grown issues as the import-to-export North America Trade Report gap continues to widen," Maersk said in the report.
"The US is facing a trucking crisis, rail infrastructure needs to be updated, terminal competitiveness lags behind other countries, while digital transformation is putting pressure on the way the US does trade - not to mention the bunker fuel hikes and terminal congestions persist.
"Meanwhile, the outlook is more positive for Canada, which promises to be one of the fastest growing markets in terms of container trade across the Americas this year," said the report.
Port terminal operator subsidiary APM Terminals and freight forwarding arm Damco estimate total maritime container volumes to and from the United States grew by 4.7 per cent to 35.04 million TEU in 2017.
US imports surged 6.8 per cent last year to 22.06 million TEU, according to the report, while exports rose just one per cent to 11.98 million TEU.
In the United States, Maersk projects import volumes to grow between three and five per cent in 2018 on the back of accelerating GDP growth, higher wages and lower unemployment rates, all of which should translate into increased consumer spending.
"We are optimistic on US imports this year thanks to strong consumer growth, historically low unemployment and strong consumer confidence," said Maersk Line North America head Christian Pedersen. "Last year far exceeded our growth expectations."
US export volumes, on the other hand, are projected to show only "moderate" growth of up to two per cent, according to the report. Maersk expects exports from the Gulf Coast to grow four per cent in 2018, compared with three per cent export growth from the east coast and one per cent on the west coast.