Dramatic drop in US air imports

AMSTERDAM – US air imports declined 15.3 percent in August 2008, compared to the same month in the previous year. Seabury Cargo Advisory’s analysis shows that this is the largest decrease in US air imports since November 2001. Prior to August 2008, the US had not experienced any negative double digit growth in its air imports since the start of 2002.

Growth of air imports into the US from its top 10 sourcing countries in August 2008 was as follows:

	Orgin	Air Import Growth
1	China	-15%
2	Germany	-17%
3	Japan	-26,6%
4	United Kingdom	-2.2%
5	France	-15,9%
6	Italy	-19,7%
7	Colombia	+1,3%
8	Peru	+6,7%
9	Chile	+0,1%
10	Taiwan	-21,9%

 

Fashion goods air imports from China, mainly consisting of jerseys, footwear, dresses and coats, declined with on average 20 percent. US imports of computer and phone parts also showed a large growth decline. Some compensation to the decline was the high growth rates of US air imports of laptops and cell phones, of respectively 33.7 and 50.7 percent.

Air imports of vehicles parts from Germany, one of its largest export products to the US, dropped by 37 percent. US imports of complete vehicles from Germany on the other hand, more than doubled.

US air imports from Japan showed decreases in a wide range of commodity groups:  machinery parts: -14 percent, high tech -41 percent, raw materials -14 percent and vehicles & parts -40 percent.

When looking at the destination areas within the US for the air imports, it becomes clear that certain areas are more affected than others. Nevertheless, with the exception of the Houston and Washington D.C. areas, all regions show decreased air imports. The New York City and Los Angeles areas, the largest receivers of air imports in the US, both had negative growth rates in August of 19 percent.