Retail Container Volume Expected to End Two Years of Declines

The report now expects 2009 to end with a total volume of 12.6 million TEU, a drop of 17 percent from last year's 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 12.47 million TEU imported in 2003.

"The second half of 2009 has seen an improvement with 'less bad' year-over-year numbers compared with the first half," IHS Global Insight Economist Paul Bingham said. "While improving, import container traffic is projected to be weak through March due to the traditional slow season combined with the weak pace of economic recovery."