Advertisement

Record-High 2017 Imports Climb 6.3% Over 2016

Anticipating a strong holiday season, retailers are on track to import a record volume of merchandise in 2017, according to the November Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

“Retailers have been bringing in merchandise since late summer, and supply is ready to meet the increased demand that has been building throughout the year,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy in a statement.

The total number of 20-foot-long cargo containers or their equivalents, known as TEU, is forecast to hit 20 million for the year. This would be an increase of 6.3% over 2016, which set a record with 18.8 million TEU. Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 9.7 million TEU in the first half of 2017, a 7.5% bump up from the same period in 2016.

Advertisement

Import volume varies on a monthly basis, but the trend for the last four months of the year is upward. September, the latest month for which data is available, registered 10.5% year-over-year growth. Shipments for October are estimated to have grown 4.9% compared to the previous October. Although November imports are expected to be flat, dipping 0.5% YOY, December shipments are forecast to rise 2%.

NRF is forecasting that 2017 holiday retail sales will climb between 3.6% and 4%, while the full year will come in between 3.2% and 3.8% ahead of 2016. Because the Global Port Tracker counts the number of containers rather than the value of the products inside, cargo volume does not correlate directly with sales, but shipment numbers can be seen as a barometer of retailers’ expectations, according to the association.

“This has turned out to be a boom year for growth in import cargo volume,” said Ben Hackett, Founder of Hackett Associates in a statement. “It reflects strong growth in spending by U.S. consumers.”

Featured Event

View the Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series on-demand to uncover key 2025 retail trends, from AI and personalization to social commerce. Gain expert insights, data-driven predictions, and actionable takeaways to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Uncovering What’s Next in Retail

On-Demand Limited Video Series

Q1 is a pivotal time for retail, with experts analyzing holiday sales and forecasting trends. View the full lineup of the Retail Trendcaster video series for insights on consumer spending, AI, personalization, social commerce, and more—helping you focus on what truly matters in 2025.

Brought to you by
Retail TouchPoints
Access Now
Retail TouchPoints is a brand of Emerald X LLC. By clicking the button and submitting information, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be shared with corporate affiliates of Emerald X LLC, and other organizations such as event hosts, speakers, sponsors, and partners. Please read our Privacy Policy and our Terms Of Use for more information on our policies.

Access The Media Kit

Interests:

Access Our Editorial Calendar




If you are downloading this on behalf of a client, please provide the company name and website information below: