Inbound Freight
There are many different classifications that could be bestowed upon an ocean freight shipment. One of those names could be inbound. Essentially, when a logistics professionals calls a shipment inbound, it also means any import shipment. Likewise, exported cargo is also called outbound cargo.
Some businesses only ship exclusively inbound cargo in the US. And with reason, that is good news. Shipping studies continue to show that inbound freight levels into major US ports has continued to increase in recent years. These totals are based on the entire year, as the import market can sometimes be seasonally based. For example, during Chinese New Year, it is very difficult for containers to ship out of the Far East to the US.
The best way for keeping track of these inbound totals in the past has been with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Inbound Ocean Liner Freight Index. They count the inbound volumes of international shipments into the US. They also kept track of the monthly prices from the carriers and used those numbers in their index. The US Bureau of Economic Analysis carefully studied these results when they were published years ago.
For a shipper who is new to the inbound container market, it would be wise to partner with a *freight forwarde*r who is trustworthy, provides the best security and has the most experience in this type of shipping. They know the ins and outs of inbound shipping into the United States.