JOC Top 100 US Importer Rankings 2021

Total U.S. import and export containerized trade in 2021 will increase by 7.8%, while imports will increase by 13.1%, offsetting a 3.1% decline in exports.

U.S. import growth in 2021 is broad-based, with double-digit percentage gains in autos and parts, household goods, toys and apparel. U.S. consumers emerging from social isolation in 2021 due to a Covid-19 vaccine continue to spend most of their money on goods rather than services such as travel and in-person entertainment. Although imports of electronics and food have not grown as fast as other commodities, their long-term growth trajectory has continued, reflecting growth in the U.S. economy, where low unemployment and lower interest rates have fueled robust consumer spending. (Note that the situation described here is for 2021)

For U.S. exporters, however, the 2021 story is one of those missed opportunities. For example, containerized outbound shipments of cars and parts surged 22.2% due to a surge in global demand, but actual car sales were limited by supply chain disruptions and shortages of key components, suggesting growth could be slowed under more "normal" market conditions stronger. Exports of food, chemicals and plastics, as well as agricultural products, have also been hampered by port congestion, which has disrupted shipping schedules and led to shortages of capacity and container equipment. Rising demand for some types of scrap metal has provided a silver lining for exports of recyclable materials, but this growth has been offset by a persistent long-term decline in waste paper volumes due to stricter environmental regulations in the main export market, namely China.

This JOC Top 100 US Importer Rankings 2021 list is limited to shippers - Beneficial Cargo Owner (BCO) of containerized cargo in and out of U.S. ports via ocean-going vessels in 2020 - and do not include shipper associations, carriers, NVOCCs, freight forwarders or brokers , 3PLs, banks, or "to order" negotiable bills of lading, or data subject to privacy restrictions. International imports and exports to and from the U.S. by air, rail, or truck are also excluded.

                           JOC Top 100 US Importer Rankings 2021