9 February 2024 (Lloyd's List) - US imports gained in January as strong volumes from China boosted the US west coast and Red Sea diversions began to impact east and Gulf coast schedules.

January volumes rose 7.9% from December, 9.9% from the same period last year, and 9.6% from pre-pandemic 2019, according to the latest report from logistics and software provider Descartes.

Imports from China grew 14.9%, benefitting mostly the Pacific ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, who both saw sequential growth of double digits from December.

“January was another solid month driven by surprisingly strong imports from China,” Descartes’ executive vice president of industry and services Chris Jones said.

“The combined effect of the Panama drought and the conflict in the Middle East is beginning to impact transit times, particularly at the top East and Gulf coast ports.”

Delays increased in the major east and Gulf coast ports as major liners diverted ships around the Cape of Good Hope amid the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

About a third of volumes coming into the port of New York and New Jersey, the largest east coast port, go through the Suez Canal. The port advised that vessels diverted around the COGH will be delayed between 10-14 days.

According to Descartes, delays, which it measures as the difference between the estimated arrival date initially declared on a bill of lading, and the date when it receives a processed bill of lading from the US Customs and Border Protection, increased for almost all major US ports.

As expected, east coast ports saw the largest increase in transit delays, with the port of New York and New Jersey leading with delays increasing by 2.6 days, followed by Virginia with an extra 2.4 days.

Overall, however, the east coast gained import volumes in January compared to December, according to Descartes, although some ports saw volumes fall sequentially.