Importsare predicted to rise by 3.5% in May according to the latest monthly reportfrom the National Retail Federation (NRF).

USports followed by the NRF report handled 1.3mteu in March, the latest month forwhich after-the-fact numbers are available.

Thenumber was up 5.1% from February, traditionally the slowest month of the year,and up 14.5% from March 2013.

Aprilwas estimated at 1.38mteu, up 6.1% from the same month last year while May isforecast at 1.44mteu, up 3.5% from last year.

Movinginto the summer months June and July are expect to be up 5.6% and 3% to1.43mteu and 1.49mteu respectively.

Augustand September are both expected to be largely unchanged from a year ago at 1.5mteuand 1.44mteu respectively, NRF said.

TheWashington-based trade body said import volumes for the first half of this yearare expected to total 8.2mteu, up 5.1% over last year. The total for 2013 wasup 2.3% to 16.2mteu.

Thepredictions for this month come as negotiators prepare to begin talks on a newcontract for US west coast dockworkers.

“We’reexpecting a lot of cargo to move through the ports this summer and we want tomake sure there aren’t any supply chain disruptions that would impact the cargoflow,” NRF spokesman Jonathan Gold said.

“Wehope there won’t be any issues, but the sooner labor and management can agreeon a new contract, the better it will be for everyone who relies on the WestCoast ports.”

Representativesof the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore andWarehouse Union are scheduled to begin negotiations next week on a new contractto replace the current agreement that expires June 30.

NRFhas urged both sides to avoid any disruptions that could affect the flow ofback-to-school or holiday season merchandise.

WestCoast ports handle more than two-thirds of US retail container cargo each year,including the bulk of cargo from Asia.

Thelast major shutdown there occurred in the fall of 2002, closing ports for 10days and creating a weeks-long backlog to be cleared.

The NRF report covers the US ports of LosAngeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York,New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami onthe East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.