The Datamyne’s Trade Statistics Show Recovery in Motion

U.S. imports regain some, but not all ground lost in 2009

(INDUSTRYWIRE) MIAMI – April 1, 2010 – The Datamyne's latest statistics from its U.S. imports database show imports recovering this February compared with February 2009, but still short of pre-recession levels. The statistics from The Datamyne, a leading provider of international trade data, are based on records provided by U.S. Customs & Border Protection and capture month-by-month fluctuations in trade volumes. Here are the TEU (20-foot equivalent unit) tallies for February (the latest month in 2010 for which complete data is available):

February 2010: 1,120,239

February 2009: 966,942

February 2008: 1,394,173

February 2007: 1,442,657

Much of the growth occurred in transpacific trade. Container shipments from China, top source for U.S. imports, were up 23.2% in February, compared to the same month one year ago.

"The volume increase we have seen in U.S. imports through February, compared to the same point in 2009, lends support to recent World Trade Organization forecasts of a rebound in world trade," said Brendan McCahill, chief executive officer of The Datamyne. A March statement released by the World Trade Organization (WTO) anticipates that world trade will grow at 9.5 percent year over year in 2010.

The WTO forecast measures trade on a volume basis because it provides a more reliable point of year-by-year comparison, undistorted by changes in commodity prices or currency rates. If growth keeps to the current pace, the WTO says, it will take another year for trade volumes to surpass 2008 peak levels.

About The Datamyne

The Datamyne is the world's largest database of import-export shipments, covering 43 countries in the Pacific Rim, the European Union, and the Americas. Built and maintained by an international team, The Datamyne tracks cross-border commerce, from individual transactions to macro-trends, and provides private- and public-sector clients with custom research and market intelligence. www.thedatamyne.com

Contact:

Lucy Peterson

413.737-0399