As Japan International Freight Forwarders Association (JIFFA) reported, Japan’s container exports to the U.S. declined by 5% in June, marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. According to Descartes Datamyne, the total volume reached 51,468 TEUs, measured at the port of origin.
Direct shipments fell sharply by 13.7%, totaling 33,288 TEUs. In contrast, transshipped containers rose 16.4% to 18,180 TEUs. The increase reflects growing volumes moving through Shanghai, which has emerged as a key hub under a new East Asian shipping alliance.
Transshipment activity varied by region. Shipments via South Korea rose 17.1%, while those through China jumped 57.5%. Containers routed through Taiwan slipped 6.8%, and Singapore saw a steep drop of 73.4%.
Looking at the first half of the year, Japan exported 315,742 TEUs to the U.S., down 4.3% from the same period last year. Direct exports made up 210,954 TEUs, a decline of 7%. Transshipped volumes increased slightly to 104,788 TEUs, up 1.6%.
Among third-country hubs, South Korea remained the leading route with 63,139 TEUs, though it saw a 5.2% drop. China handled 20,384 TEUs, up 21.1%. Taiwan moved 12,723 TEUs, marking a 13.2% rise, while Singapore’s total fell 16.1% to 4,880 TEUs.
Rising transshipments, particularly through China, point to changing routing patterns and evolving alliance strategies in the region.
