The National Retail Federation (NRF) has reported that US retail imports at retail container ports remain high but port congestion is impacting operations.

The latest Global Port Tracker report by the NRF and Hackett Associates has revealed US retail imports at the US’s largest retail container ports should remain at near-record levels this month. It could see a slight dip from last year’s unusually high numbers however as congestion slows the movement of backed-up cargo.

NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold explained: “The cargo is there for larger gains at several ports but congestion issues are impacting fluid operations.”

He added: “Ships will eventually get unloaded but the pressure is on for everyone to work together to get the containers out as quickly as possible. Retailers are doing whatever it takes to make sure shelves are well-stocked for the holidays, from bringing in merchandise earlier to chartering their own ships. Consumers should be able to find what they need, but it’s always safer to shop early than wait until the last minute.”

Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett pointed out: “Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse with the logistics supply chain we’ve been proven wrong.”

He added: “From power outages and port shutdowns in Asia to backed-up ships and shortages of truck drivers in the US, there are few positive signs that the movement of consumer goods or the supply of inputs needed for industrial production is getting better.”

Hackett explained Covid-19 infections in Asia have slowed the loading of US-bound ships, while shortages of equipment, labour and outbound truck and rail capacity have continued to build congestion at US ports. Close to 75 ships were waiting at anchor to enter the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recently, up from around 25 a month earlier, and backups are spreading to East Coast ports as well.

The US ports covered by the Global Port Tracker handled 2.27 million 20-foot Equivalent Units in August, which is the latest month for which final numbers are available.

This was up 3.5% from July and up 7.8% from a year earlier and tied March as the second-busiest month since NRF began tracking imports in 2002.

Ports have not reported September numbers yet, but Global Port Tracker has projected the month at 2.25 million TEU, which would be up 6.7% year-over-year.

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While October is forecast at 2.21 million TEU. That would be down 0.3% from the same time last year, when imports surged dramatically as the economy reopened after the first wave of Covid-19 and retailers rushed to meet pent-up consumer demand, but still the sixth-busiest month on record as imports remain high. The year-over-year decline would be the first since July 2020.

The congestion and disruption usually comes in the middle of the “peak season” for shipping when retailers stock up on holiday merchandise each year, but many retailers began bringing in holiday goods over the summer to be sure sufficient inventory will be available.

November is forecast at 2.16 million TEU, which would be up 2.9% year-over-year, and December is forecast at 2.1 million TEU, down 0.2%. January 2022 is forecast at 2.17 million TEU, up 5.7% from January 2021, and February 2022 is forecast at 1.9 million TEU, up 1.4% year-over-year.

The first half of 2021 totalled 12.8 million TEU, up 35.6% from the same period last year. For the full year, 2021 is on track to total 26 million TEU, up 18.1% over 2020 and a new annual record topping last year’s 22 million TEU. Cargo imports during 2020 were up 1.9% over 2019 despite the pandemic.

Earlier this month the NRF reported that US shoppers are continuing to spend despite falling consumer confidence numbers amid the recent rise in Covid-19 infections.

By Just Style