Container exports from Japan to the US dropped 8.6 per cent year on year in October to 53,298 TEU, though volumes rose 26.7 per cent compared with September, reported London's Port Technology.

Total exports for January through October reached 528,492 TEU, a 2.4 per cent decline from the same period in 2024. Direct shipments accounted for 37,555 TEU in October, down 13.3 per cent, while transshipments rose 5.3 per cent to 15,743 TEU, making up 29.5 per cent of the total.

Of the transshipped containers, 11,079 TEU moved via South Korea, up 9.4 per cent. China handled 2,402 TEU, up 22.5 per cent, Taiwan 1,443 TEU, up 1.8 per cent, and Singapore 267 TEU, down 73.7 per cent.

Tokyo handled 13,964 TEU of direct exports, down 21.6 per cent. Nagoya managed 12,083 TEU, down 1.5 per cent, Kobe 7,494 TEU, down 23.5 per cent, Yokohama 2,699 TEU, up 5.8 per cent, and Osaka 470 TEU, up 94.2 per cent. The surge at Osaka was driven by auto-related shipments preferring direct routing.

By commodity, vehicles rose 5.2 per cent to 12,001 TEU. Nuclear reactors, machinery and related equipment fell 16.9 per cent to 11,909 TEU. Rubber products increased one per cent to 5,747 TEU, plastics declined 14 per cent to 5,561 TEU, and electrical machinery dropped 3.4 per cent to 3,314 TEU.