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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.

Apr 16 2018

NWSA container volumes decline post-Lunar New Year

Apr 16 2018

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volumes declined 9.6 percent in March 2018 compared to March 2017 for a total of 302,516 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). Overall total year-to-date volumes are down 6.7 percent. Imports and exports declined 8.7 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.


NWSA’s March volumes were negatively impacted as factories in China shut down production for the Lunar New Year, causing carriers to omit service calls as a result. In addition, vessel delays caused some calls to slip into April.

Total international container volumes, at 245,723 TEUs, decreased 10.1 percent from March 2017. At 117,452 TEUs, import volumes were down 12.8 percent from the prior year volumes. Exports were down 7.5 percent at 128,271 TEUs.

Earlier this month, the MSC Laurence arrived at NWSA’s Terminal 46 in Seattle, making it the largest vessel to call the terminal. The vessel’s capacity of almost 13,000 TEUs is on trend with the shipping industry as carriers seek increased economies of scale to reduce operating costs and environmental impact.

Total domestic volumes in March decreased 7 percent to 56,792 TEUs compared to March 2017. Alaska’s volumes were down 7.6 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest decreased 4 percent.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 43.7 percent year to date to 54,766 metric tons.
  • At 31,568 units, auto volume was down 28.8 percent year to date, mirroring the overall decline in the North American auto import market.

View the March 2018 cargo reports:
Mar 19 2018

NWSA container volumes grow 6 percent in February

Mar 19 2018

A late Lunar New Year positively impacted The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s February volumes as shippers moved cargo in advance of the holiday. Total container volumes grew 6 percent in February 2018 compared to February 2017 for a total of 279,488 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

Total international container volume, at 233,643 TEUs, increased 7.4 percent from February 2017. At 125,005 TEUs, import volumes were up 13.4 percent from the prior year volumes. Meanwhile exports were up 1.3 percent at 108,638 TEUs.

Positive volumes in February was not the only good news. The NWSA received four new ZPMC super post-Panamax cranes for Husky Terminal. Pier 4 at Husky is being reconfigured to align with an adjacent pier, creating one contiguous berth capable of working two 18,000-TEU container ships simultaneously. While the NWSA already handles 13,000-TEU vessels, the project is our strategic commitment to modernize the terminals to handle the larger ships of the future.

Total domestic volumes in February decreased 0.7 percent to 45,845 TEUs compared to February 2017. Alaska’s volumes were down 2.4 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest increased 7.8 percent due to improved market conditions.

Overall total year-to-date volumes are down 5.2 percent. Imports and exports declined 6.4 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 29.7 percent year to date to 32,482 metric tons.
  • At 21,763 units, auto volume was down 8 percent year to date, mirroring the overall decline in the North American auto import market.

View the February 2018 cargo reports:

 
Feb 21 2018

NWSA container volumes decline in January

Feb 21 2018

Containers
The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volumes declined 16.7 percent January 2018 compared to January 2017 for a total of 250,762 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

Total international container volume, at 207,638 TEUs, decreased 16.9 percent from January 2017. At 107,701 TEUs, import volumes were down 22.7 percent from the prior year volumes. Meanwhile exports were down 9.6 percent at 99,936 TEUs.

The decrease appears to be a result of shifting alliance deployments last year.

Total domestic volumes January 2018 versus January 2017 decreased 15.9 percent to 43,124 TEUs. Alaska’s volumes were down 18.3 percent, due to unscheduled vessel dry docking and soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest declined 4.6 percent.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume grew 6.8 percent to 15,487 metric tons.
  • At 10,338 units, auto volume, mirroring the overall decline in the North American auto import market, was down 18.0 percent.

View the January 2018 cargo reports:

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