IMPORT cargo volume at the nation's major container ports is expected to be 22 per cent lower during the first half of 2023 than the same time last year despite increased consumer spending, according to the Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

The report comes amid disruptions at west coast ports but the incidents have not yet been widespread enough to be reflected in nationwide data.

"Cargo volume is lower than last year but retailers are entering the busiest shipping season of the year bringing in holiday merchandise. The last thing retailers and other shippers need is ongoing disruption at the ports,§ said federation vice president Jonathan Gold.

"If labour and management can't reach agreement and operate smoothly and efficiently, retailers will have no choice but to continue to take their cargo to east coast and Gulf coast gateways. We continue to urge the administration to step in and end disruptions.§

Said Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett, who conducts the port tracker: "Import container shipments have returned the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019 and appear likely to stay there for a while.§

US ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.78 million TEU in April, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was up 9.6 per cent from March, but down 21.3 per cent year on year.

Ports have not yet reported May numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.84 million TEU, down 23 per cent year on year. June is forecast at 1.91 million TEU, down 15.3 per cent from the same month last year. That would bring the first half of 2023 to 10.5 million TEU, down 22.3 per cent year on year.

July is forecast at 1.99 million TEU, down 8.8 per cent; August at 2.02 million TEU, down 10.5 per cent; September at 1.95 million TEU, down four per cent, and October also at 1.95 million TEU, down 2.7 per cent.

Global Port Tracker has not yet forecast the full year, but the third quarter is expected to total 5.97 million TEU, down 7.9 per cent from the same time last year, and the first nine months of the year should total 16.48 million TEU, down 17.6 per cent year on year. Imports for all of 2022 totalled 25.5 million TEU, down 1.2 per cent from the annual record of 25.8 million TEU set in 2021.