According to the "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" website reported on May 6, the U.S. Descartes - Dattamin company released data show that in March from Asia to the United States of America's maritime container shipments of 14,555,586 (calculated on the basis of 20-foot containers), compared with the same period a year ago, an increase of 20%, for the seventh consecutive month of growth.

　　Shipments of the top 10 products all exceeded the same period last year. Steel products were up 43 percent and plastics were up 41 percent. In terms of consumer goods, the most shipped category, furniture, was up 29% and toys and sports equipment were up 17%. This reflects the end of adjustments to inventories built up as a result of the new crown epidemic and the firming of U.S. personal consumption.

　　By shipping region, shipments from mainland China, which has a share of more than 50 percent of shipments, grew 18 percent. Shipments from South Korea, in second place, were up 35%, and shipments from Vietnam, in third place, were up 25%, with significant growth in the more heavily shipped regions. Japan shipments were up 9% and Taiwan shipments were down 1%.

　　While shipments remained firm, freight rates now turned to a downward trend from a sharp rise prior to February. Container freight rates from Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast stood at $3,602 per 40-foot container on April 26, 28 percent lower than the high ($5,005) in early February.

　　Container ship freight rates rose sharply between late 2023 and February 2024 due to water shortages in the Panama Canal and intensified attacks on merchant ships around the Suez Canal.