Colliers International Port Analysis: Will U.S. Be Ready For Intermodalism, Changes To Global Shipping?

Panama Canal Expansion Means Higher Volumes, Larger Vessels, New Trading Patterns

SEATTLE, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the completion of the Panama Canal expansion nears, a number of concerns have surfaced regarding the ability of U.S. ports to keep up with the more aggressive port infrastructure progress witnessed overseas. Colliers International released its North American Port Analysis Report, which highlights the rapid growth of intermodalism – the study of various transportation modes such as seaport/ship and rail as interconnected rather than isolated – and the need for significant investment in U.S. ports Post-Panamax, or post-Panama Canal expansion. 

Key Findings

In the report, Colliers identifies a number of key takeaways, including:

• Intermodalism: In the past 55 years, intermodalism has advanced from the equivalent of the ice age to the space age. This concept is vital to the success of the global supply chain.
• Post-Panamax Prep: Four East Coast ports will be ready to handle post-Panamax ships by 2015, including Baltimore (2013), Miami (2014), New York (2015) and Norfolk (ready).  In addition, four West Coast ports are already post-Panamax ready, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Seattle.
• Funding Port Infrastructure: The U.S. ranks only 23^rd globally. Multi-billion dollar investment is required for North American ports to meet the demands of Post-Panamax container traffic by 2030, when 60 to 70 percent of the world's container fleet will be 18-22 containers wide.  Currently, only eight U.S. ports are on track to be Post-Panamax ready by 2015.
• Port Activity: The U.S. is far behind other countries in terms of port activity, and globally does not rank among the top 10 busiest ports. Six of the world's 10 busiest container ports are in China, and the busiest port, in Shanghai, handles 29 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers. In comparison, the busiest port in the U.S. is Los Angeles/Long Beach, which handles 14 million TEUs.
• Risky Business: Any change in business presents risks, and Colliers has identified several for the U.S. ports in the foreseeable future: overheated port competition, environmental inaction, labor strikes, slowing global GDP, and state budget crises.  
• Container Traffic: For the first time since World War II, container traffic growth on the East coast has surpassed that of the West coast. This is in large part due to emergent, strong manufacturing companies moving to the Southeast and Midwest.

"Changing patterns of global commerce, and logistics models and routes mean we have to rethink how and where we invest in maintaining relevant port infrastructure to remain competitive long term," said K.C. Conway, executive managing director of Market Analytics at Colliers International, and author of the report. "The port infrastructure in the U.S. continues to mature on a daily basis through intermodalism.  With a number of investment and engineering feats ahead, the U.S. remains well-positioned to positively impact global trade and the overall supply chain."

In the report, Colliers has also initiated the 2012 Port Awards to recognize the top 10 North American ports.  For example:

• Most Irreplaceable: Port of Houston
• Jumping Hurdles in a New York Minute: The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
• The Comeback Kid: Jacksonville Port Authority
• The Up-and-Comer: Alabama State Port Authority

For a full list and further analysis on the North American ports, a complete PDF version of the 13-page report is available at www.colliers.com/US/Colliers_Port_Analysis_NA_Aug-2012.

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About Colliers International

Colliers International is the third-largest commercial real estate services company in the world, with over 12,300 professionals operating out of more than 520 offices in 62 countries. A subsidiary of FirstService Corporation, it focuses on accelerating success for its clients by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including global corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research. Commercial Property Executive and Multi-Housing News magazines ranked Colliers International as a top U.S. real estate company. The latest annual survey by the Lipsey Company ranked Colliers International as the second-most recognized commercial real estate firm in the world.

SOURCE Colliers International