Port Infrastructure Roundup: US Import Volumes Hold Firm as Global Ports Pursue Expansion and Modernisation

## Port Infrastructure Roundup: US Import Volumes Hold Firm as Global Ports Pursue Expansion and Modernisation A series of developments across global port infrastructure this week underscores continued investment in capacity, sustainability, and logistics connectivity, even as US import volumes show signs of moderating later in 2026. ### US Container Imports Remain Elevated Through August Import volumes at major US container ports are expected to hold above 2.2 million TEUs in August before gradually easing through the remainder of 2026, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report published by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. The sustained throughput reflects ongoing consumer demand and retailer restocking activity, though the anticipated softening in the months ahead will be closely watched by carriers and terminal operators managing capacity allocation on key trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic trade lanes. ### Cape Town Launches 25-Year Floating Dry Dock Concession Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has opened a Request for Proposals seeking a private operator to develop and manage a floating dry dock at the Port of Cape Town under a 25-year concession agreement. The selected concessionaire will bear full responsibility for designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility — a significant private-sector commitment that signals TNPA's intent to attract long-term investment into South Africa's ship repair sector. Cape Town's strategic position on the Cape Route makes enhanced dry dock capacity a commercially attractive proposition for operators serving vessels transiting between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. ### Ningbo Reissues Shore Power Tender for Beilun Terminal Ningbo Beilun Third Container Terminal has launched a second tender for a high-voltage shore power installation covering Berths 7 and 8. The project specifies one ship shore-based box power supply system with a high-voltage output capacity of 5 MVA. The reissuance of the tender suggests the initial procurement round did not yield a suitable contractor, though the project remains a priority as Chinese ports accelerate electrification programmes in line with national emissions reduction targets. Shore power infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a baseline requirement at major container terminals across Asia and Europe. ### Jacksonville Logistics Footprint Expands with 8 Million Sq Ft of Industrial Space The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) reports that the region has added approximately 8 million square feet of speculative industrial development over the past two years, according to a market update published on 7 August. Of that total, around 2 million square feet has been leased, leaving roughly 6 million square feet of available logistics space — a significant inventory that positions Jacksonville as a competitive gateway for importers seeking distribution capacity in the US South-East. The expansion reflects broader trends of port-adjacent warehousing investment as shippers seek to shorten inland supply chains and improve inventory resilience. --- *Sources: Port Technology International, National Retail Federation / Hackett Associates Global Port Tracker, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), Transnet National Ports Authority.*