offering an encouraging boost to the economy as its struggles to recover from a sharp, COVID-induced slump, though imports remained sluggish.
But there were signs that transport and supply chain disruptions caused by the lockdowns were continuing to ease, just in time for shippers preparing for peak year-end shopping demand. Analysts have expected import momentum to pick up modestly in the second half of the year, supported by construction-related equipment and commodities as the government ramps up infrastructure spending.