MNI BRIEF: US Retail Imports Seen On Record Streak Thru June

U.S. retail imports are expected to set monthly records through the summertime, the National Retail Federation said Monday, with imports through the first half of 2021 forecast to surge as consumer demand for goods spikes. Each month through June should be a record month for imports, according to NRF estimates, and ports through the first half of the year are projected to handle 11.5 million TEU. That's 22.1% higher than the same period last year, though port activity during the first half of 2020 suffered immensely from the impact of Covid-19.

"The import numbers we're seeing reflect retailers' expectations for consumer demand to the point that many factories in Asia that normally close for Chinese New Year this month are remaining open to keep up," NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said, reflecting an MNI story published in late January.