Shippers Launch New Export Route TO Asia From The U.S. In Response To Huge Demand (US Exports)

The Business Insider ^ | 5-12-2010 | Vincent Fernando, CFA

[blam]

Shippers Launch New Export Route TO Asia From The U.S. In Response To Huge Demand

Vincent Fernando, CFA
May. 12, 2010, 7:58 AM

Shipping companies are creating a new Oregon route from the U.S. to Japan, in response to demand for U.S. exports.

We should probably get used to these trade trends:

Seatrade Asia:

Starting on July 11, the monthly service will provide space for more than 200 containers per month under a six month contract. Once successfully established, Port officials say the service could quickly increase in both volumes and frequency of vessel calls.

 “While this will start relatively small, the relevance to shippers in our region is great,” said Greg Borossay, Senior Manager Carrier Development for the Port of Portland. “This is a key mission-driven service for the Port and the Columbia River basin, and there is solid potential for growth.

”
Westwood’s Portland service will carry non-refrigerated containerized agricultural products including hay, as well as paper products and other commodities from valley, upriver and inland customers. Ports of call in Japan will include Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya, as well as Busan, South Korea. Westwood provides service to more ports in Japan on a direct call basis than any other carrier.

The U.S. has enormous potential to feed a Asia with its agricultural products. It's not just about Japan, China isn't the most fertile of nations. China already needs U.S. agricultural imports, and it will need a lot more in the future. More of this will come.

[snip]

[devane617]

I thought shippers had moth-balled most of their container ships? I remember seeing a picture posted here on FR a month or so ago showing ships lined up waiting on orders...

[Fee]

China originally was the major shipper for US exports. Ships with “stuff” from China would arrive at west coast, empty themselves and have space for US exports. Since US is in recession, China cannot ship “stuff” to us at financial loss, so they cut back the amount of stuff to us meaning there is less ships available to help US farmers ship goods to Asia. This is what happens when a nation decides to abandon their own merchant fleet and rely on a foreign country to ship their exports. Hopefully this alternative arrangement works, otherwise US farmers and exporters will miss out on sales opportunities.

[blam]

They ‘mothballed’ so many ships that they wound up with a shortage. It was reported on FR.

[investigateworld]

Ya, look at what we're exporting ... sounds like a Third World shipping manifest.

(As I've predicted long ago, the America haters want us to join the bottom of the barrel)