GC-to-Asia shipping trade grows

Asia has become the main driver of the U.S. Gulf Coast’s container shipping growth during the last decade. Volume jumped more than 25 percent in 2017. Ships on the three Asia-to-Gulf Coast container services, via the expanded Panama Canal, are running near capacity. Importers have diversified their port gateways by using Gulf Coast (GC) ports - Houston; New Orleans; Mobile, Ala.; Gulfport, Miss.; and Pensacola, Fla. - in supply chains to serve the region’s growing population. Strong exports are being boosted by growth in synthetic resins shipments. Shippers are urging carriers to add more services to Asia from the Gulf Coast, where the resin production is centered. Houston ships more than two-thirds of the GC’s container volume. The Gulf Coast’s share of containerized imports from Asia rose to 6.6 percent (from 5.87) in 2016, and 4.7 percent in 2015. That’s when Houston landed its first all-water container service from Asia. Imports were up 17.4 percent last year at the Port of Mobile. Several ports, including New Orleans, Mobile, and Gulfport, have installed or are planning to purchase post-Panamax cranes, and are in various stages of financing deeper or wider channels. While Asian services through the canal represent the fastest-growing GC market sector, most of its container volume still comes from Latin America, North Europe, and the Mediterranean. (Source: JOC.com 02/10/18)