INTTRA Partners with Cass to Deliver U.S. Import and Export Ocean Freight Indexes

INTTRA, the world’s largest multi-carrier e-commerce network for ocean shipping, has partnered with freight payment provider Cass Information Systems, Inc. to publish the Cass/INTTRA Ocean Freight IndexesTM, a pair of monthly indexes measuring fluctuations in U.S. import and export ocean container activity. Interested parties can subscribe to a monthly report of the Cass/INTTRA Ocean Freight Indexes through either the Cass or INTTRA web site at no charge. 

The Cass/INTTRA indexes will reflect both U.S. import and export containerized ocean freight activity and include third-party analysis for each month’s findings. Information for the indexes is collected from INTTRA’s global database, which represents more than 21 percent of the world’s ocean container traffic. With 49 ocean carriers and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) connecting to more than 220,000 shippers, INTTRA’s network provides the most complete and current data available on containerized trade flow. 

The indexes are derived from data for executed shipments between the U.S. and a selective group of 25 leading import and export trading partner countries, which account for the vast majority of container activity into and out of the U.S. This provides consistent and timely visibility into U.S. import and export trade patterns. 

The first index data, issued today, spans from 2010 through October of 2013. Going forward, the indexes will be delivered on a monthly basis. The first published indexes show that October 2013 container export volumes are up over September’s figures, but still below 2012 levels. Meanwhile, October imports grew when compared to the same period in 2012. 

“Container exports this year have been weaker than in each of the last three years,” according to Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst with Delcan Corporation and an internationally recognized supply chain expert. “With signs of a stalling economy, and the ripple effects of the government shutdown, watching imports over the next few months will be interesting.” 

Wilson will provide ongoing analysis with each monthly release, highlighting trends and observations in this critical area of commerce. “These new indexes will be two of the key leading indicators I review each month when analyzing economic trends,” added Wilson. 

“Through a global view of actual transaction volumes in the containerized shipping market, INTTRA provides a unique, in-depth look into U.S. commerce trends,” said Sandra Moran, vice president, product and industry marketing, INTTRA. “We look forward to teaming with Cass Information Systems to bring our multi-carrier ocean transport data into these new indexes, which will deliver valuable insight on import and export activity.” 

“By combining Cass’s expertise in global transportation data management with data from INTTRA, and Wilson’s insight and analysis, we expect our index reports to become valuable resources for anyone interested in fluctuations in U.S. trade patterns,” said Frank Cirimele, Cass director of products and services. 

Cass Information Systems also publishes the Cass Freight Index™, a trusted measure of North American freight volumes based on $22 billion in freight transactions processed by Cass annually on behalf of its client base of hundreds of large shippers.