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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.

Nov 16 2018

NWSA’s October container volumes up nearly 10 percent

Nov 16 2018

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total monthly container volumes for October reached 333,995 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 9.9 percent increase over the same month last year.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance import volumes increased to 144,925 TEUs, a 20.7 percent increase compared to October 2017. At 134,096 TEUs, export volumes were up 7.2 percent from the prior year volumes. Total international container volumes for the month rose 13.8 percent year over year at 279,020 TEUs.

International volumes for the month were the strongest since October 2005, our highest October on record. Monthly volumes benefited from a surge in imports as shippers continue to send cargo ahead of tariffs.

“As we approach January, the uncertainty of the tariffs is driving our import customers to re-examine their supply chains and explore new strategies,” said Tong Zhu, NWSA’s chief commercial officer and chief strategy officer. “Regardless of the impacts, our team at The Northwest Seaport Alliance is committed to supporting our customers and implementing innovative solutions to move cargo through our gateway.”

Total domestic volumes in October decreased 6.6 percent to 54,974 TEUs compared to October 2017. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were down 4.4 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were down 2.2 percent year to date.

Total year-to-date container volumes are up 1.3 percent.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 16.1 percent year to date to 199,563 metric tons.
  • Auto volume was down 9.4 percent year to date to 108,967 units.

View the October 2018 cargo reports:
Oct 17 2018

NWSA records strongest September since 2005 as import container volumes surge

Oct 17 2018

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total monthly container volumes in September 2018 increased 15.6 percent compared to the same month last year. With a total of 373,845 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), it was the fifth highest monthly volume in our history.

This September also marked the strongest September since the record-breaking month in 2005.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance import volumes surged to 163,582 TEUs, a 30.3 percent increase compared to September 2017. At 143,583 TEUs, export volumes were up a robust 8 percent from the prior year volumes. Total international container volumes for the month rose 18.8 percent year over year at 307,164 TEUs.

Contributing factors for the increase include four additional vessels that rolled over from August due to inclement weather conditions in Asia and shippers sending cargo ahead of tariffs.

Total domestic volumes in September also increased 2.6 percent to 66,680 TEUs compared to September 2017. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were down 4 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were down 2.8 percent year to date.

Total year-to-date container volumes are up 0.3 percent.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 15.9 percent year to date to 180,185 metric tons.
  • Auto volume was down 8.7 percent year to date to 100,648 units.

View the September 2018 cargo reports:
Sep 17 2018

NWSA’s container volumes dip in August

Sep 17 2018

Total monthly container volumes in August 2018 dropped 6.9 percent compared to the same month last year, for a total of 314,321 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Contributing factors included weather conditions in Asia, which caused vessel delays and threw ships off schedule.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance import volumes reached 125,385 TEUs, a 2.4 percent decrease compared to August 2017. At 121,853 TEUs, export volumes were down 10.5 percent from the prior year volumes. Total international container volumes decreased 6.6 percent year over year at 247,238 TEUs.

Despite the dip in volumes, the NWSA celebrated a big infrastructure milestone in August as all four super-post-Panamax cranes at Husky Terminal in our South Harbor went into service, allowing bigger ships to berth without stow restrictions. Evergreen also began introducing larger ships for two of its services in Tacoma.

Total domestic volumes in August decreased 8.2 percent to 67,083 TEUs compared to August 2017. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were down 5 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were down 2.6 percent.

Total year-to-date volumes are down 1.7 percent.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 27.2 percent year to date to 159,004 metric tons.
  • Auto volume was down 10.2 percent year to date to 87,091 units.

View the August 2018 cargo reports:

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