Congestion levels at the major North America container gateways are now expected to persist until the summer, as the consumer-driven import boom continues. April set new records, according to new data from PIERS, which recorded 31% year-on-year growth in containerized imports to the U.S. from Asia. It said 1.57m TEU arrived from Asia last month, the most on record, and it was the 10th consecutive month for year-on-year growth. The Los Angeles/Long Beach gateway has borne the brunt of the import surge and, during the first months of the year, has already handled 3.1m TEU, an increase of 46% on the same period last year, PIERS said. (Source: gCaptain)