HONOLULU — Cargo volume declined on Kaua‘i by 2.5 percent from July 1 to Sept. 30, according to the Young Brothers Quarterly Shipping Report for the third quarter of 2012. Overall, intrastate volume dropped 1.1 percent compared to the same
HONOLULU — Cargo volume declined on Kaua‘i by 2.5 percent from July 1 to Sept. 30, according to the Young Brothers Quarterly Shipping Report for the third quarter of 2012.
Overall, intrastate volume dropped 1.1 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. The report is a key barometer of neighbor island economic activity.
In addition, during the first nine months of 2012, Kaua‘i cargo volume was down 2.1 percent overall, according to a press release.
“We saw a slight down-tick in the third quarter but, overall, cargo volumes were relatively stable,” said Glenn Hong, president of Young Brothers.
“Still, we’re hoping to see our quarterly comparisons get back into positive territory as we round out the last quarter of 2012.”
Young Brothers faced a 2.7 percent decrease in intrastate cargo volume for the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.
The company reported local agricultural cargo volume saw another increase, both quarterly and year-to-date.
Year over year, third-quarter volume was up 9.8 percent, while volume for the first nine months increased 10.9 percent.
This volume includes only cargo that qualifies for the company’s island product discount of 30 to 35 percent, which applies to locally grown agricultural products.
“We believe the agricultural cargo increase reflects the growing interest by local consumers in food sustainability. People and businesses appear to be buying more locally grown products,” Hong said.