What's the world trade situation?

Captains,

The volume of U.S. trade with other countries this June is up nearly 24 percent from last June. The total trade of goods and services of $350.8 billion was not as high as in July 2008 when it peaked at nearly $400 billion, but much better than June 2009 when it reached only $283 billion. This means more ships and more terminal business.

RADM W

An August 18 Reuters article reported on Maersk, the Suez Canal, Hapag-Lloyd and Dubai Ports World:

Maersk in particular is seen as a barometer of global trade as its fleet has 14.6 percent of all container shipping capacity. Compared with 2009, Maersk's freight rates rose 31 percent and volumes 11 percent, rebounding to 2008 levels. Due to increasing volumes, Maersk began redeploying laid-up vessels in the second quarter, putting 14 ships back into service by the end of July from 19 laid up at end-2009.

The Suez Canal said recently it had seen its highest daily revenue since the 2008 financial crisis, while Germany's TUI AG said it saw a rebound in demand at its Hapag-Lloyd container shipping unit.

DP World's first-half container volume climbed 7 percent.

Maersk's APM Terminals unit -- which with six-month revenue of $2.18 billion and operating profits of $607 million is bigger than DP World -- saw the volume of containers it handled rise 6 percent in the first half.

IHS Global Insight's World Trade Service summarized the outlook:

World containerized trade measured in 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) increased 9.2 percent in 2010 and is projected to grow at 6.8 percent in 2011.

The outlook for bulk shipping also is improving following a decline of 2.8 percent in bulk commodity trade in 2009. Dry bulk commodity shipment tonnage, which includes grain, iron ore, and coal, will increase 10.3 percent in 2010 and 8.7 percent in 2011.

Liquid bulk trade, which includes petroleum and liquefied natural gas, has also been growing despite short-term supply issues in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The growth rate for liquid bulk global trade is forecast at 9.9 percent in 2010 and 8.4 percent in 2011.