A quick glance into the Logistics Market - March 2013
Georgia Logistics complies a monthly set of facts and figures regarding the Logistics Markets. We selected a few facts to share with you :-
The U.S. GDP increase 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2012 according to the second preliminary estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The unemployment rate in America decreased to 7.7% in February 2013 as there were 236,000 net new jobs.
The U.S. trade deficit increased by 16.5% in January to $44.4 billion, the largest deficit increase since January 2011. Exports fell 1.2% to $184.5 billion and imports rose 1.8% to $228.9 billion.
The consumer price index for all urban consumers remained the same in December from the previous month. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.6%. The producer price index for finished goods increased 0.2% in January from the previous month. Prices for finished goods fell 0.3% over the previous year.
TRUCKING:
The ATA’s seasonally adjusted cargo index rose 2.9% in January after rising 2.4% in December. The for-hiretruck tonnage index rose 6.5% year-over-year. January’s index was the highest on record.
The spot market for truckload freight in January fell 8.1 compared to the previous month, and was 1% lower year-over-year. Truck capacity fell 6.3% for the month, and was up 16% year-over-year.
Orders for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks in North America are expected to total 23,011 units in February 2013.
February orders were 4% higher than the previous month, and 3.5% higher year-over-year.
AIR FREIGHT:
Global air freight traffic in January increased 5% from one year ago. North American air freight in January rose 0.6% year-over-year.
In January, the average international air cargo rate fell 10.5 points from December; the largest monthly drop in the index since its inception in May 2012. The average price of air cargo leaving the United States in January stood at $3.25 per kilogram.
As of March 1, 2013, the global average jet fuel price was $135.40 per barrel; up 0.8% from the previous month, and 2% lower year-over-year.
OCEAN FREIGHT:
Import shipment volume, in TEUs, at U.S. ports decreased 5% in February from the previous month but rose 15.3% year-over-year, the highest since 2008. Over 1.4 million TEUs were imported in February, and shipments were over 720,000.
Toyota exported more than 124,000 U.S.-assembled vehicles to global markets in 2012, an increase of 45% over the prior year. The company looks to build upon its own record this year with the announcement that it will begin using the Port of Brunswick to export Venza crossover vehicles to Russia and Ukraine.
Toyota expects to export approximately 5,000 Venza vehicles per year to Russia and Ukraine.
The state of Georgia experienced its fourth consecutive record year in international trade in 2012.
Georgia’s exports totaled $35.8 billion, a 3.2% increase. Georgia led all other U.S. states in the export of meat & edible poultry, chemical wood pulp, sulfate, cotton, kraft paper & paperboard, carpet, kaolin, and peanuts. The state imported more than $72 billion in goods in 2012, an increase of 8%.
WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION:
The U.S. average industrial vacancy rate was 8.7% during Q4 2012, down from 9% in the previous quarter.
Overall vacancy was 9.6% in the Atlanta and 11.7% in Savannah during the fourth quarter.
The National PMI rose 1.1 points to 54.2 in February 2013. New orders rose 4.5 points to 57.8 and production increased 4 points to 57.6.
In Q4 2012, warehouse and distribution rental rates in the US averaged $4.30 per square foot. Rental rates for warehouse space averaged $3.33/square foot in the South and $3.57/square foot in Savannah.
RAIL:
Railroad bulk carload freight in February 2013 rose 2.3% from January 2013. Freight traffic in February fell 1.1% from February 2012. Carloads excluding coal and grain increased 4.5% over the previous year.
Intermodal rail traffic in February 2013 was 10.5% higher than in February 2012 and 3% higher than January 2013 totals. Intermodal loadings have experienced year-over-year gains for 39 straight months.
The index of average railroad fuel prices in January was 611.4, down 0.2% from the previous month and 0.8% higher year-over-year.
MULTIMODAL:
Dow Jones Transportation index rose 3.9% during the month of February.
NASDAQ Transportation Index decreased 1% in February.
In January, the U.S. imported about $228.9 billion of cargo. January U.S. imports have increased 1.8% in terms of value from December, and fell 0.9% year-over-year.
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