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Monthly cargo reports

We are the fourth-largest container gateway in North America, and our regional marine cargo facilities are also a major center for bulk, breakbulk, project/heavy-lift cargoes, automobiles and trucks. We report volumes each month.

Jun 21 2017

NWSA handles record May international container volume

Jun 21 2017

This was the strongest May on record for total international container volume, including empties, at 255,817 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). As new ocean carrier alliance services entered the gateway, volumes increased by 18 percent compared to last year.

Full imports grew 10 percent to 115,960 TEUs compared to last year as retailers continue to rebuild inventory levels and a favorable market outlook fuels import demand. Despite the strong U.S. dollar, full exports were up 8 percent to 78,086 TEUs. Empty exports also grew 72 percent as ocean carriers continue to reposition empties to Asia in preparation for peak season. The National Retail Federation recently projected in its June – October forecast that imports are expected to continue their strong growth trend.

Year to date, full import volumes were up 11 percent to 578,387 TEUs. Meanwhile, full exports grew 5 percent to 402,829 TEUs. Total international containers, including empties, increased 13 percent year to date to 1,223,535, the highest since 2006.

Total container volumes for the gateway grew 12 percent over the same month last year, and year-to-date volumes were up 8 percent.

Total domestic volumes for the month declined 8 percent compared to the same month last year. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes declined 8 percent and are expected to end the year 5 to 6 percent lower due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest declined 7 percent due to diversion to Southern California.

Other cargo:

  • Driven by consistent demand from China, log volumes were up 93.9 percent to 129,927 metric tons over the same time last year.
  • Breakbulk cargo was down 7 percent, to 69,901 metric tons year to date, due to soft market conditions.
  • Autos, at 59,891 units year to date, slipped 20 percent compared to the same time last year, reflecting weakening U.S. demand and shifting manufacturing locations.

View the May 2017 cargo reports:
May 19 2017

NWSA year-to-date container volumes grow 8 percent

May 19 2017

For the month of April, total container volumes remained steady as the new ocean carrier alliance deployments took effect, resulting in 0.5 percent growth over the same month last year. Year-to-date volumes were up 8 percent.

April international container volumes performed well. At 110,821 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), full imports grew 6 percent compared to April 2016, as retailers continued to rebuild inventory levels and a favorable market outlook fueled import demand. Full exports were up 1 percent to 77,558 TEUs. Empty exports grew 81.5 percent as ocean carriers began repositioning empties to Asia in preparation for peak season. Total international TEU volumes, including empties, increased by 8 percent compared to last April.

April’s full imports brought year-to-date volumes to 462,427 TEUs, up 11 percent. Meanwhile, full exports grew 5 percent to 324,743 TEUs. Total international containers, including empties, increased 12 percent year to date.

Total domestic volumes for the month declined 21 percent compared to April 2016. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes declined 8 percent and are expected to decline 5 to 6 percent this year due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes declined 9 percent.

Other cargo:

  • Breakbulk cargo was down 10 percent, to 55,119 metric tons year to date, due to soft market conditions.
  • Autos, at 53,925 units year to date, slipped 13 percent compared to the same time last year, reflecting weakening U.S. demand and shifting manufacturing locations.
  • Driven by consistent demand from China, log volumes were up 165.3 percent, to 94,547 metric tons, over the same time last year.

View the April 2017 cargo reports:
Apr 20 2017

First quarter international container volumes strongest since 2005

Apr 20 2017

Total domestic and international container volumes increased by more than 14 percent for the month of March, and year-to-date volumes were up 10 percent.

March international container volumes performed strongly post-Lunar New Year. At 120,018 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), full imports grew almost 26 percent compared to March 2016. At 99,603 TEUs, full exports were up more than 9 percent in March, making it the strongest month for exports this year. Total international TEU volumes, including empties, increased by almost 21 percent compared to March 2016.

International volumes recorded the highest first quarter since 2005, which was a record-breaking year. This year’s first-quarter full imports reached 351,607 TEUs, up more than 13 percent. Meanwhile, full exports grew 6 percent at 247,186 TEUs. Total international containers, including empties, increased more than 13 percent year to date.

Total domestic volumes for the month declined more than 8 percent compared to March 2016. Year to date, Alaska volumes declined almost 4 percent and are expected to decline 5 to 6 percent this year due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes, however, are expected to show modest growth for the year and have grown 2 percent year to date.

Other cargo:

  • Breakbulk cargo was down 16 percent to 38,114 metric tons year to date, due to soft market conditions.
  • March was the fifth-largest month for autos in the past 21 years. Autos reached 44,317 units year to date and were flat compared to the first quarter of last year.
  • Driven by stronger demand from China, log volumes were up 76.1 percent to 62,753 metric tons compared to March 2016.

View the March 2017 cargo reports:

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