For first quarter 2012, the Port of Baltimore noted a 61%
increase in vehicle tonnage exported - 243.6m kg. Baltimore is taking advantage
of key agreements made with the likes of BMW, which signed a five year
agreement in 2010 to ship 50,000 cars through the port. In 2005, Mercedes Benz
signed a 20 year lease with the Maryland Port Administration for its waterfront
vehicle-processing center. For 2011, the Port of Baltimore handled more
vehicles than any other US port.
The Port of Jacksonville recorded a 24% in vehicle tonnage
during first quarter – 187.3m kg. Honda announced its logistics partner,
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, would handle exports of Honda’s latest CR-V,
currently being manufactured in Ohio, through the Port of Jacksonville. This is
in addition to Honda’s other models that are being exported through
Jacksonville.
Mexican vehicle exports increased almost 21% for first
quarter. The Port of Veracruz, the country’s largest vehicle-handling port,
reported a 31.2% increase in exports. Although the Port of Lazaro Cardenas
noted a decline in vehicle exports (-39%), vehicle imports increased a whopping
72.5% which may suggest a market share gain from US ports. This is a growing
option as oppose to using US west coast ports as some shippers are able to take
advantage of not only NAFTA benefits but also are able to utilize Kansas City
Southern, a US Class I railroad and the only rail access to this port which
links the port to the US heartland.
As many European countries entered recession at the
beginning of the second quarter, it remains to be seen if US and Mexican ports
can continue this growth in vehicle exports – particularly for US east coast
ports. The Port of Detroit, the largest vehicle-export port noted exports
declined over 20% during first quarter.
Although the majority of Detroit’s vehicle exports are to Canada, this
may be an indication of a slowdown at least for the “Big 3” – GM, Ford and
Chrysler who all have major manufacturing facilities in the Detroit area.
