US on Pace Through November to Break All-Time Import Record, Says NRF

The U.S. was on track through November for record imports in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reported the National Retail Federation Friday. U.S. retail ports handled 2.11 million 20-foot containers or their equivalents in November, increasing 24.5% from the 2019 month but down 4.9% from October, said NRF. December was projected at 2.02 million containers, down 17.3% year on the year but one of only six times in nearly 20 years that the monthly total has reached 2 million, it said. If the December projection holds up, 2020 will have ended with 21.9 million containers handled, up 1.5% from 2019 and breaking the previous record of 21.8 million containers in 2018. Imports during the second half of 2020 set a “string of new records,” including an all-time high of 8.3 million containers handled for the July-October “peak season” when retailers rushed to bring in merchandise for Q4 holiday selling season, said NRF.