Gulf-Asia trade increases.

BYLINE: JANET NODAR

Imports grow at slower pace than exports

Trade between the Gulf of Mexico and Asia grew 14.81 percent during the 12 months ending on Feb. 29, 2008. Imports dominated the raw numbers but grew at a slower pace than exports, according to PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions, a sister company of Gulf Shipper.

Overall, ports in the Gulf handled exports to Asia totaling 99,668 TEUs during the period; imports from Asia to the region totaled 214,516 TEUs. "Asia" includes China, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India. 

Two ocean carriers, CMA CGM and Zim Integrated Shipping Services, have direct services between the Gulf and the Far East. CMA CGM's weekly PEX3 service, which calls at Houston's Bayport Container Terminal with a string of five 5,000-TEU vessels, handled 53 percent, or 113,014 TEUs, of Gulf-Asia waterborne containerized imports during the period. Zim handled 22 percent, or 48,030 TEUs. The two carriers' positions switch with exports: Zim …