Mixed messages

摘要

Ports in North America encountered a very challenging 2008 as imports crashed in the wake of the global financial crisis and this year looks as if it will be extremely difficult if the first quarter of 2009 is anything to go by. John Fossey reports. Last year was a disappointing one for many container ports in North America, with the majority of US facilities registering traffic declines compared with 2007. Overall, an estimated 40.4 million TEU was handled at US ports in 2008, down about 3% on the 41.6 million TEU processed in 2007. While the situation was better in Mexico and Canada, with the latter country's port of Montreal, registering growth of about 8% to 1.47 million TEU, this year has seen it also slip into negative territory.