LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Container ports in the United States will experience
steady but modest growth this year, and, as in 2006, congestion will not be
an issue, according to the January Port Tracker published by the National
Retail Federation and analyst Global Insight.

Imports from Asia, which drive the U.S. container trade, increased about 10
percent in 2006. Imports this year will be closer to seven percent,
according to the report.

February will mark the depth of the slow season as factories in Asia shut
down for two weeks for the lunar New Year holiday. The report estimates
major U.S. gateways will handle 1.2 million TEUs in February. Container
volumes will increase in March to 1.3 million TEUs, 1.38 million TEUs in
April, and 1.41 million TEUs in May. Volumes will then build rapidly during
the summer-fall peak season.

The ports each month, however, are projected to handle a four- to
seven-percent increase in container volume from the year-ago month. The
projections are based largely on information provided by major retailers,
which are generally the largest importers in the U.S. trades.

In 2006 Los Angeles-Long Beach led U.S. ports in growth and the nation's
largest port complex gained market share at the expense of other West Coast
gateways.

The report finds that the rapid growth in Southern California appears to
have played out. LA-Long Beach will maintain its market share in 2007, but
the Pacific Northwest and Northern California gateways will also experience
steady growth in cargo volumes this year. On the East Coast, New York-New
Jersey and Savannah will see the most growth in the first half of this year.

Although the Class 1 railroads were stretched in handling record intermodal
volumes during the 2006 peak season, they performed adequately and should
have no capacity problems during the first half of 2007. The harbor
trucking industry should likewise have sufficient capacity during the
winter and spring months, the outlook stated.