If 2018 was a banner year for most of North American container ports, and the numbers indicate that it was, then it is also true that the reasons for that success were many; some more clear cut than others. In no particular order of importance, box traffic soared in North America because of an undeniably robust economy, the (arguable) rush to import aggressively ahead of the threat of tariffs stemming from the U.S.-China discord, the advent (and maturation) of the Panama Canal expansion and, finally, improved port infrastructure and authorized channel depths, especially here in the United States. All that said; yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s ballgames.
