According to Zepol's online database of U.S. ocean imports, TradeIQ™, December imports increased from November by 17.8% and 6.7% from December of 2011. Total vessel imports for the year of 2012 rose 1.2% from 2011. For the past three years, imports have increased in very small percentages, unlike the large jumps the United States experienced before 2008 (see graph below). Although, with port strikes, hurricanes, and shifts in manufacturing, 2012 was an especially unique year for U.S. imports, which may have impacted the totals.

Methodology:
Zepol’s data is derived from Bills of Lading entered into U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This information represents the number of House manifests entered by importers of waterborne vessel goods. This is the earliest indicator for trade data available for the previous month’s import activity. The data excludes shipments from empty containers, excludes shipments labeled as Freight Remaining on Board (FROB), and may contain other data anomalies.       


    

According to Zepol's online database of U.S. ocean imports, TradeIQ™, imports in November have reached the lowest levels the United States has seen since February. November TEUs (twenty-foot-containers) decreased 12.8% from October and 15.2% from November of last year. There was a significant slump in imports from Asian countries by 18% from November of 2011, but European countries had only a slight dip in imports by 6.5%.

It's unique to see U.S. imports so low in November, but then again, with Hurricane Sandy torturing the east coast and an eight-day labor strike at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach, the last month and a half has seen some unexpected and disrupting events...So the real question is will December continue the downward slope we've seen since July, or rise above the mediocre November?

Methodology:
Zepol’s data is derived from Bills of Lading entered into U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This information represents the number of House manifests entered by importers of waterborne vessel goods. This is the earliest indicator for trade data available for the previous month’s import activity. The data excludes shipments from empty containers, excludes shipments labeled as Freight Remaining on Board (FROB), and may contain other data anomalies.       

Fair trade coffee imports into the United States have not only increased astronomically in the last decade, but Zepol’s data shows that this trend is still rising. Quarter two of 2012 reached a record-high for fair trade coffee imports (by vessel), surpassing Quarter two of 2011 by just two shipments. The graph below illustrates the rising trend.



The majority of fair trade coffee imports to the United States originate in Central and South America, however growing numbers are originating in Africa and Asia. The largest supplier of fair trade coffee to the United States for 2012 is Mexico, followed by Nicaragua and Colombia. Most recently, imports from Djibouti have seen positive growth. The chart below shows the top suppliers of fair trade coffee to the U.S. so far for 2012. Zepol’s TradeIQ™ data shows that companies like Volcafe Specialty Coffee and Royal Coffee have increased imports of fair trade coffee recently.
Is fair trade coffee energizing YOU yet? 

According to Zepol's U.S. Customs trade data tool, TradeIQ™, total inbound shipments for February decreased 18.55% from January and 2.68% from last February. The dip follows a similar trend for recent years.

The table below shows trends in port regions of the world where shipments originated: