Navigate the Future of Trade
Trade Currents analyzes historic and evolving patterns of international trade. Detailed trade and economic data, combined with insights from leading economists and trade analysts, form the basis for projections of trade volumes by commodity and mode along with the risks associated with those projections.
The Covid Storm
After years of steady growth, the COVID pandemic depressed volumes of containerized imports in 2020 followed by a sharp increase in 2021 through 2022 and a steep downward correction in 2023. How will U.S. container trade continue to grow in 2024 and beyond? Trade Currents analysis and projections examine this trend by commodity.
Containerized U.S. Vessel Imports
U.S. Macroeconomics
Trade Currents examines historic variations in U.S. trade volumes and the major factors that will affect future trade volumes and patterns: Major U.S. macroeconomic factors affecting U.S. trade volumes include consumer spending, residential and non-residential investment, and industrial production.
Trade Partners
U.S. trading partner shares are a key determinant of trade volumes by commodity, mode, and port. China’s share of U.S. containerized imports dropped sharply in 2019, and has declined further through April 2024. Shifts to overland sourcing from Mexico and Canada reduce total U.S. vessel and containerized volumes.
Modal Shifts
Containerization rates for total imports by vessel have climbed steadily since 2010 but dipped in 2023.
Seasonality
Many consumer goods commodities have highly seasonal import patterns. A typical seasonal peak is in the third quarter of the year.