[Source/Observer Network, Chen Sijia] According to a May 6 report by CNBC, due to U.S. President Trump's insistence on instigating a "tariff war," many companies have canceled manufacturing orders, leading to a sharp drop in U.S. imports and now further evolving into a nationwide decline in exports. Almost all U.S. exports have been affected, with agricultural products being hit particularly hard.
The report states that trade tracking agency Vizion analyzed container booking data before and after Trump's tariffs took effect. They found that the export volume of most ports across the country has significantly decreased.
For example, the export volume at Portland Port dropped by 51%, the largest decline among all ports. The large agricultural product export port Tacoma Port also saw a 28% decrease, with its main agricultural products such as corn and soybeans primarily shipped to China, Japan, and South Korea. The export volume at the Los Angeles Port fell by 17%, while the Savannah Port, which had the highest volume of agricultural container exports this year, dropped by 13%. Norfolk Port declined by 12%.
Other ports experienced smaller declines, such as Houston Port and Seattle Port, which saw export volumes decrease by 3% and 3.5%, respectively. However, Ben Tracy, vice president of strategic business development at Vizion, pointed out: "It is clear that almost all U.S. exports have been affected."
This confirms the warnings from the U.S. agricultural industry, which has long stated that the U.S. lacks the ability to sell agricultural products globally.
Vizion's statistics on changes in U.S. port export volumes CNBC report screenshot
CNBC noted that the decline in exports is related to the reduction in cargo ships arriving in the U.S., as some companies were forced to cancel manufacturing orders, causing some Chinese factories and cargo ships to stop entering the U.S. Tariffs have led to a rapid decline in U.S. import volume. Data from tracked ports by Vizion show that from April 21 to April 28, the container volume at U.S. ports decreased by 43% week-over-week.
Kyle Henderson, CEO of Vizion, said: "Since the pandemic disrupted things in 2020, we haven't seen anything like this. This means that goods originally planned to arrive within the next six to eight weeks will not be delivered at all. Due to tariffs increasing costs, small businesses are suspending orders, and products that once had reliable transportation channels are now doubling in price, forcing importers to make difficult choices."
Retailers have been urging U.S. consumers to buy goods as soon as possible. Data from the global research department of Bank of America indicates that this warning may be correct. The latest forecast data from the institution shows that the number of container cargo ships entering the Port of Los Angeles in May will further decrease. The trade dispute will lead to a 15% to 20% reduction in the number of containers imported from Asia in the coming weeks.
The report from Bank of America points out that despite U.S. companies stocking up in early 2025, there has not been a significant increase in merchandise inventory. Many retailers may only have one to two months of inventory. Any unforeseen demand or supply disruption could affect retailers' ability to supply and price goods in the U.S.
On April 30, Red Hook Container Terminal in New York City, Visual China
CNBC reported that this fall, the U.S. will see shopping seasons such as the July 4th National Day, the "Black Friday" in November, and "Cyber Monday" in December. Retailers now need to purchase goods and prepare for holidays, so June this year may become a "turning point" for the U.S. supply chain, either securing holiday success in advance or leaving it to fate.
Kip Louttit, executive director of the Southern California Maritime Exchange, said that tracking data shows that only 14 cargo ships arrived in recent three days, and only 10 cargo ships are scheduled to arrive within the next three days, but the "normal activity level" over three days should be 17 cargo ships.
He warned that the reduction in the number of cargo ships and containers arriving in the U.S. will further translate into excess labor, trucks, trains, and other links in the supply chain, "they will lose their jobs due to reduced cargo arrivals."
Matson, a shipping operator based in Hawaii providing expedited transportation services from China to the Port of Long Beach in California, has seen a year-on-year decrease of about 30% in the volume of containers transported since Trump's tariffs took effect in April. Matson lowered its outlook for 2025 on May 5, citing tariffs, trade regulatory measures, U.S. economic issues, and geopolitical problems.
Matt Cox, CEO of Matson, said during the earnings conference call: "Our visibility of container demand is limited. We expect the container volume in the second quarter to decrease year-over-year. It is currently difficult to determine whether the lower levels are temporary or will persist beyond 2025. The duration of the demand downturn may depend on ongoing negotiations and the potential timing for adjusting tariffs."
Local time on May 6, data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau showed that the U.S. trade deficit in March 2025 was $140.5 billion, higher than February's $123.2 billion, setting a new record. The export volume in March was $278.5 billion, and the import volume was $419 billion.
This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501352043555176960/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Please use the [thumbs up/thumbs down] buttons below to express your opinion.