Japan-US container trade grows in 2024

Container movements from Japan to the United States reached a total of 643,433 TEUs in 2024, marking a 5.7% increase compared to the previous year.

In addition, direct shipments accounted for 445,147 TEUs, reflecting a significant 13.8% growth, while transshipped containers totalled 198,286 TEUs, translating to a 9% decline.

Focusing on direct shipments, Tokyo contributed 182,538 TEUs, up 8.9%; Nagoya handled 129,529 TEUs, up 17.4%; Kobe recorded 91,380 TEUs, up 11.1%; Yokohama shipped

30,715 TEUs, up 27.6%; and Shimizu moved 3,964 TEUs, down 18.8%.

In December 2024 alone, container shipments from Japan to the United States reached 48,739 TEUs, a modest year-on-year increase of 0.1%, marking three consecutive months of growth. Direct shipments improved 2.1% to 34,264 TEUs, while transshipped containers declined 4.4% to 14,475 TEUs, making up 29.7% of the monthly total.

By port of origin in December, Tokyo shipped 14,096 TEUs, a 2.6% decrease; Nagoya handled 9,902 TEUs, up 3.1%; Kobe moved 6,980 TEUs, up 7.8%; Yokohama recorded 2,428 TEUS, an 18.8% increase; and Shimizu shipped 347 TEUs, down 15.2%.