The CTS data showed regional imports well ahead year-to-date across all regions except North America. Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent and Middle East, and South and Central America, were up 16.4%, 8.7%, and 7.5%, respectively. Europe followed with a 7.3% increase, which was bolstered by imports from the Far East and the Indian sub-continent and Middle East, both up 8.5% y-t-d.
All regions posted export increases except North America, which saw a 2.7% decline. Six of the seven regions recorded year-to-date growth, but gains were less pronounced than imports, CTS said.