PIERS Data Show Recession Slowing U.S. Imports and Exports

But Share of U.S. Trade Crossing the Pacific Grows

NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions(R), a division of UBM Global Trade, released import-export trade statistics that capture the recession's initial impact on international commerce: While the world's leading importer -- the U.S. -- started to trim incoming volumes in 2007, the loss (compared with the preceding year) was a modest 0.6% compared with a drop of 7.8% in 2008.

U.S. exports continued to gain, but the rate of growth has slowed to 9.7% for 2008 compared with 17.5% for 2007.

The U.S. may be buying less from overseas -- but PIERS predicts that more of what it does buy will be coming from across the Pacific (from 75.8% in 2008 to 78.1% of total imports in 2010); and China's already substantial share of U.S.-TransPacific imports will grow from 64.4% in 2008 to 68.6% in 2010.

Similarly, more of U.S. exports will be shipped across the Pacific (from 57.1% in 2008 to 59.4% in 2010). While China's share of U.S.-TransPacific exports fell in 2007, it began growing again in 2008 (34.1%) and is projected to reach 38.7% by 2010.

These projections are based on PIERS trade data through third-quarter 2008, which are summarized in the latest PIERS Sector SnapShot, a periodic overview of containerized import-export trade in key sectors of the global market. The PIERS SnapShot on TransPacific Trade can be downloaded for free from the PIERS website at http://www.piers.com/transpacificsnapshot/.

About PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions

PIERS is the primary source of U.S. waterborne trade information and a leader in global trade solutions.

Launched over 30 years ago by The Journal of Commerce as the Port Import Export Reporting Service, its first venture in electronic information, PIERS quickly became the standard reference on container trade for the maritime industry.

The database that is at the core of PIERS information products is unique. Based on the manifests and bills of lading that document import-export activity, and checked by reporters in every port, the PIERS database yields the most timely, accurate, comprehensive information available on trade through U.S. Ports. More specialized PIERS databases also offer historical data back to the 1950's, trade finance data, and Asia and Latin American trade data. PIERS economists and researchers supply expert data analysis and interpretation to support decision-marking, while detailed and customizable datasets yield solutions for cross-border marketing, supply-chain management and competitive intelligence.

A roster of over 6,000 private industry, trade association, and domestic and foreign government clients, representing more than 40 countries, relies on PIERS to translate trade data into meaningful intelligence that guides their global business strategies. For more information visit www.piers.com.

About UBM Global Trade

UBM Global Trade, formerly Commonwealth Business Media, Inc., has been the leading provider of proprietary data, news, business intelligence and analytical content supporting commercial maritime, rail, trucking, warehousing and logistics industries worldwide since 1827. The company's portfolio of more than 100 online, print and interactive workflow business solutions includes The Journal of Commerce, The Journal of Commerce Conferences, PIERS Global Intelligence Solutions and an array of international trade and transportation databases and directories. UBM Global Trade, a subsidiary of United Business Media Limited, is headquartered in East Windsor, NJ, with offices throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, China and Hong Kong. For more information, explore www.ubmglobaltrade.com or call 800-221-5488 (+1-609-371-7700 outside the U.S. and Canada).

About United Business Media Ltd. (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com)

United Business Media Limited (UBM) is a global media and marketing services company that informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM serves professional and commercial communities, from IT professionals to doctors, from journalist to jewelry dealers, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. UBM employs more than 6,500 people in more than 30 countries. UBM's businesses operating in the US include CMPMedica, Commonwealth Business Media, Everything Channel, PR Newswire, RISI, Techninsights, TechWeb and Think Services. UBM is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L) and has a market capitalization of $2.5 billion.