A new report suggested that the importing of holiday season cargo is expected to increase in 2013. According to the report, there could be an anticipated 16.2 Million TEUs imported in 2013, up 2.5% from 15.8 Million TEUs in 2012. Retail importers in the United States are very excited about this news. Although the volume of containers being imported does not reflect the value of the cargo inside the container (and the value impacts retail sales revenue), this is very encouraging news. It is also predicated that holiday spending is expected to increase more than 11% this year.
Many analysts consider this report to be above their earlier low expectations that ocean freight imports were down after a lackluster start to 2013. Part of the reason that US imports were lower during the start of 2013 is due to higher than usual ocean freight rates.
One thing for shippers and retailers to consider during this time of the year is the usual peak season surcharge on imports that are shipped from Asia to the United States. This peak season surcharge is nothing new and is expected almost every year at this time, in anticipation of the holiday shopping season.
Consumers across the United States heavily depend on retail shopping during the holiday season in November and December. And the current trends suggest that more and more shoppers go online for buying their holiday items. So retailers should also plan their shipping and logistics online by working with trusted international freight forwarders who can supply instant freight shipping quotes online. With so many shippers offering free shipping, it is important that shippers receive their merchandise from overseas at a lower cost. That is why during the holiday season, a freight forwarder can consolidate your international freight. This will save you on the cost of importing the freight from other countries. In addition, these freight forwarders have built special partnerships so that you can receive special rates for shipping freight before the big holiday season. The point is that working with a freight forwarder can make a big difference in shipping.
Global Forwarding is you best source for International Shipping. Global Forwarding, a trusted Freight Forwarder and NVOCC, offers instant freight quotes online. It takes just 10 seconds and then you are ready to ship. They supply dramatic savings and outstanding service. You can instantly compare prices from leading international ocean shipping carriers and access deep discounted freight rates.