The world’s second-largest carrier saw U.S. exports jump 18.9 percent from January to September and outbound shipments rise 12.8 percent. Imports were up 1.3 percentage points over exports, giving MSC a rare equilibrium of trade.
Maersk, the world's largest global container line, saw exports rise 1.7 percent and imports fall 4 percent during the the same period. The Danish carrier handled 50 percent more imports than exports.
Total U.S. container trade in the first nine months of 2011 was up 5.1 percent year-over-year, thanks to an 8 percent surge in exports and a 3.2 percent jump in imports. Compared to the same period three years ago, however, trade was down 1.1 percent, or more than 250,000 20-foot equivalent units.