The number of twenty-foot cargo containers (TEUs) landing at US ports in January totaled more than 1.475 million, a year-over-year increase of 4.1% and an increase of 11% over December imports. January makes the 3rd consecutive month of containerized import growth at US ports.
Auto parts imports rose 19% and furniture imports rose 6%. The Journal of Commerce noted:
Imports from Asia continued to rise, up 2.9 percent in January, with shipments from China climbing the most, up 2 percent to 709,410 TEUs. [The author] forecasts a 2.5 percent increase in U.S. imports from Asia throughout 2012. Also of note, imports from Mexico grew 68 percent for this period.
The press release is available here.