Global Port Tracker:
North America

Developed by Hackett Associates
with sponsorship from the National Retail Federation (NRF)

The North American edition of the Global Port Tracker brings a unique blend of current and forecast information at the port level to those interested in following trends in container trade. It provides a six month rolling forecast of imports at 16 major container ports across North America.

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The forecast methodology uses short term economic indicators to drive seven econometric models across the key trade routes, the results of which are used to project trade volumes at each port and have proven to be very accurate in predicting the changing trends in the growth and direction of trade.

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The ports covered are:
• Los Angeles/Long Beach
• Oakland
• Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle and Tacoma)
• Vancouver
• Prince Rupert
• Montreal
• New York/New Jersey
• Port of Virginia
• Charleston
• Savannah
• Jacksonville
• Port Everglades

• Miami
• Houston

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The newsletter also includes a four quarter rolling forecast to augment the monthly data which can be skewed by 4 and 5 week time periods. The historical and forecast data is presented in a series of tables and charts that have been designed to convey a range of useful metrics in a concise and clear manner. The purpose is to provide information at a glance. (For assistance in reading these, the final page of the report contains instructions and examples.)

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The report also includes TEU import data for the ports of Baltimore, Boston, and New Orleans, although it does not include projected volumes for the three ports.

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In addition to the forecast horizon, the updated newsletter features an editorial, an economic outlook and an article by a guest contributor. Key news items related to individual ports are also included. As can be seen in the sample newsletters below, the approach is tactical as well as strategic and allows the reader to see the direction of trade at a glance.