Japan-China box trade declines 9%

Figures from Japan’s Shipping Conference and General Administration (SCGA) show 241,099 teu was shipped between the two nations in March. However, relative declines in exports from both countries varied widely.
SCGA said exports from Japan to China fell 4% to 84,278 teu while cargoes from China fell 11.4% to 156,821 teu.
Japan saw small rises in exports of low-value cargoes such as waste paper, and higher-rated chemical products.
Indications that a post Chinese New Year boost in imports from the mainland could be seen in the year-on-year monthly fall, which compares favourably with the 25.6% plunge in imports year-on-year in February 2009.
Exports from Japan to Shanghai, the mainland’s largest port, were up 7.6% to 48,213 teu, but exports via Shanghai to Japan were down 8.3% to 76,506 teu.