Top 100 US Exporters

Top US exporters by volume

Top 100 Importer/Exporter Rankings: US trade flows returning to pre-pandemic patterns

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 23, 2023, 8:03 AM EDT

This latest annual Journal of Commerce Top 100 Importer and Exporter rankings underscore the impact of softer US and global economies that depressed demand for goods domestically and abroad, weakening consumer confidence and high inflation, and a major shift in the timing of imports in 2022.
Container shippingTop Rankings

Top US Shippers: US auto trade rebounding despite disruption, parts shortages

Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager | Jun 6, 2022, 9:29 AM EDT

Despite strong demand both in the US and overseas, actual US vehicle production and sales remain restrained by parts shortages that forced automakers to halt production several times in 2021.
Maritime

Inventory gain, exports raise US GDP forecast

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Dec 9, 2021, 3:52 PM EST

IHS Markit expects US GDP to expand 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter, based on a $130 billion jump in inventory investment in October that represents goods “pulled forward” from 2022.
Trucking

JOC Top 100 US importer and exporter rankings 2020

JOC Staff | May 25, 2021, 10:59 AM EDT

Walmart remained atop the list of the 100 largest US importers by a wide margin in 2020, while Koch Industries retained the No. 1 export spot.
Container lines

Top US Shippers: Ag export outlook remains strong despite supply chain ‘friction’

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 20, 2021, 12:15 PM EDT

Despite duties in China, vessel space limitations at US ports and equipment shortages at inland rail hubs, US containerized agricultural shipments increased seven percent in 2020.
MaritimeContainer linesRail

TPM21: E-commerce spurs growth in container transloading

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 23, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT

Rapid e-commerce delivery requirements, as well as capacity shortages and equipment imbalances, are spurring the growth of transloading near US seaports, speakers at TPM21 said.
TruckingDrayage

Rail delays stymie exporters in Memphis

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Mar 22, 2021, 3:46 PM EDT

Exporters and trucking companies are battling delays on Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation in Memphis, causing loaded containers going to Charleston and Savannah to idle for days.
North-American rail

Port of Wilmington gains Scoular export business

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 12, 2021, 4:31 PM EST

Agricultural exporter Scoular will open a transload facility this summer to export soybeans out of the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, adding to its existing relationships with ports in Virginia, South Carolina, and Southern California.
North American ports

Savannah gets export boost from new A&R Logistics resin plant

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Dec 1, 2020, 12:19 PM EST

A&R Logistics opened a resin packaging plant in Georgia last week more than a month ahead of schedule, and along with its new South Carolina facility will contribute a combined 100,000 TEU of new volume at the ports of Charleston and Savannah annually.
North American ports

Top US Shippers: Recyclables exporters bracing for large drops in supply, demand

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 3, 2020, 12:00 PM EDT

US exporters of scrap metals, paper, and plastics saw increased demand in 2019, but volumes have come crashing down in early 2020 due to supply and demand destruction caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Maritime

Top US Shippers: Exports of paper, forest products plunge

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 1, 2020, 9:20 AM EDT

A collapse in US exports of scrap paper and forest products due to tariffs, environmental restrictions, and slowing economies in receiving countries is expected to continue this year due to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.
Maritime

Top US Shippers: Resin exports expected to slide after strong 2019

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 29, 2020, 8:00 AM EDT

The main concern for US resin producers in 2019 was an increase in Chinese import tariffs, but that has been overshadowed by macro-economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MaritimeNorth American ports

Top 100 US importer and exporter rankings 2019

JOC Staff | May 25, 2020, 8:02 AM EDT

Walmart remained atop the list of the 100 largest US importers by a wide margin in 2019, while Koch Industries retained to the No. 1 export spot.
Maritime

Top US Shippers: Ag exporters grow volumes despite tough market

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 22, 2020, 1:19 PM EDT

Nearly five months into 2020, US agricultural exporters say their main concerns are logistical issues such as blank sailings in the trans-Pacific, ocean carrier detention and demurrage charges, and supply chain disruptions due to “earliest return date” (ERD) mandates.
Maritime

Top US Shippers: COVID-19 complicates long-term automotive logistics strategies

Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager | May 20, 2020, 2:53 PM EDT

Among the many questions facing the auto industry in 2020 is how to build resilience into supply chains centered on just-in-time (JIT) fulfillment strategies and lean manufacturing.
Maritime

Shippers seek stability ahead of patchwork COVID-19 recovery

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 18, 2020, 8:00 AM EDT

Expectations for capacity, demand, and pricing across transportation modes in 2020 have been shattered by the COVID‑19 pandemic, resulting in recession.
MaritimeContainer linesTruckingRail

Top US Shippers: Food importers face consumption upheaval

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 13, 2020, 5:42 PM EDT

While other industries have seen massive increases or decreases in demand, food importers have been affected by an upheaval in consumption patterns and the channels through which end-consumers purchase food.
Maritime

Top US Shippers: US electronics importers turn to Mexico

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 12, 2020, 4:13 PM EDT

US tariffs on electronics goods produced in China continue to push production and assembly of some electronics to Southeast Asia and Mexico, with the latter grabbing a growing share of laptop computers and televisions due to its proximity to the US market.
International ports

Ag shippers urge Trump administration to intervene on detention, demurrage

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Apr 7, 2020, 3:31 PM EDT

A coalition of 80 agricultural shippers is urging the Trump administration to get involved in the detention and demurrage debate now before the Federal Maritime Commission, saying the issue is even more important now amid supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Marine terminals

US, Europe already in ‘COVID-19 recession’: economist

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 19, 2020, 5:10 PM EDT

The 10-year US economic expansion is over, killed by the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), and the recovery will be slow, IHS Markit chief economist Nariman Behravesh warns.
Supply Chain

COVID-19 redirects cargo crime, along with demand

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 17, 2020, 5:14 PM EDT

The coronavirus is creating new opportunities for cargo thieves, and demands better “continuity planning” from businesses that ship freight, BSI says.
Supply ChainTrucking

Startups partner to automate global cold chain

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Dec 11, 2019, 10:17 AM EST

Chicago-based startup Transship is teaming with TradeLens and other tech companies to create an automated shipping and forwarding platform for containerized perishables shipments.
Logistics technologyMaritimeTruckingCool Cargoes

Virginia unveils plan to reverse falling export volumes

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Nov 14, 2019, 3:33 PM EST

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam unveiled an international trade plan to boost exports by 50 percent in the next 15 years, a key initiative since laden exports fell between January and August for the second consecutive year.
North American portsPort infrastructure

US scrap export decline worsens in 2018

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 31, 2019, 1:20 PM EDT

Exports of containerized scrap products from the US have declined every year since 2014, bad news for ports and shipping lines that depend upon recyclables as reliable backhaul commodities.
Maritime

Tariff tremors test top 100 US importers, exporters

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 31, 2019, 9:58 AM EDT

The US-China trade war is keeping shippers on edge, and will likely cause further shifts in the JOC.com annual Top 100 US Importers and Exporters rankings in 2019.
Maritime

Top 100 US importer and exporter rankings 2018

JOC Staff | May 30, 2019, 11:14 AM EDT

Walmart remained atop the list of the largest US importers by volume last year and is nearing the 1 million-TEU mark, moving more than 7.3 times the volume of online retail giant Amazon, which came in at No. 12.
MaritimeTransport, trade and regulation

Tariff war casts shadow on US ocean, surface freight

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 28, 2019, 11:26 AM EDT

Economists and shipping industry leaders warn the US-China trade war could be a potential tipping point for a global economy that was already cooling before President Donald Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods.
Transport, trade and regulationMaritimeTruckingContainer lines

US chemicals exports in 2019 hinge on Chinese tariffs

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor | May 23, 2019, 11:26 AM EDT

The volume of chemicals exports from the United States will be shaped in 2019 by the resolution of the US-China trade war.
Container lines

Toy shippers wait for next tariff shoe to drop

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 21, 2019, 11:25 AM EDT

Toys from China remain unaffected by tariffs, but shippers fear they could be impacted by future rounds of tariffs.
Container lines

Autos still under the tariff gun

Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager | May 21, 2019, 10:15 AM EDT

The automotive trade is waiting with bated breath for any tariffs coming out of the US Commerce Department’s investigation into the potential national security implications of imports of vehicles and parts.
Container linesBreakbulk shipping

Headwinds strengthening in heavy machinery transport

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 20, 2019, 3:35 PM EDT

Higher tariffs and slowing manufacturing growth are among the factors weighing on heavy machinery demand.
Breakbulk shipping

Tariffs just the precursor regarding US ag exporters’ pain

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Jun 25, 2018, 11:12 AM EDT

The immediate impact of lost export opportunities because of retaliation by US trading partners to the Trump administration’s tariffs is a major, negative development for US businesses. Even so, the longer-term damage from the erosion of the US’s reputation as a reliable supplier of agricultural products should really concern beneficial cargo owners, ag exporters have been told.
Transport, trade and regulation

Trade disputes, trucking crunch threaten US export gains

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 6, 2018, 8:02 PM EST

US exports are on a growth track, but export expansion could be derailed or slowed if the United States enters a trade war.
Container lines

Maersk pressures forwarders amid market share battle

Greg Knowler, Europe Editor | Dec 19, 2017, 3:31 PM EST

It is unclear whether Maersk's strategy regarding forwarders is a temporary tactical move or part of a broader push.

US export growth emboldens carriers to pursue higher rates

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Sep 4, 2017, 8:01 AM EDT

Containerized exports are tied closely to agricultural commodities.
Container lines

China plan to ban waste imports threatens US exports

Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager | Jul 19, 2017, 4:29 PM EDT

If the ban takes effect, US exporters of these commodities will lose access to the destination where they shipped 77.8 percent of their products last year.
Transport, trade and regulation

US exporters tapping new DDG markets hurts container volumes

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor | Jul 18, 2017, 4:43 PM EDT

Trade disputes are driving US exporters of dried distillers grains (DDGs) to overhaul their supply chains.
Transport, trade and regulation

Resins raise questions for surging US cotton exports

Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor | Jul 14, 2017, 6:18 PM EDT

US cotton exporters are anticipating another strong year after containerized cotton exports rose 3.7 percent last year.
Supply Chain

No rapid rise of US beef exports to China expected as market opens

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor | Jul 13, 2017, 11:25 AM EDT

The first consignment of US beef to be imported by China in 14 years is just days away from arriving in the country.
Transport, trade and regulationCool Cargoes

Slideshow: Top 5 US importers and exporters

Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager | May 29, 2017, 7:45 AM EDT

The Top 5 Importers in 2016 combined to handled 2.2 million TEU while the Top 5 Exporters shipped 921,600 TEU.
Transport, trade and regulation