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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 17 2019

NWSA moves record-breaking international container volumes through May

Jun 17 2019

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volumes in May reached 315,792 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 2.1 percent increase over May 2018. While international imports were down 4.7 percent, exports were up 6.6 percent over May 2018.

Total container volumes for the first five months of the year reached 1,572,028 TEUs, a 10.1 percent increase from the same period in 2018, with import and export volumes growing 8.9 percent and 12.8 percent respectively.

International container volumes for January through May 2019 set a record at 1,287,947 TEUs, a 10.8 percent increase from the prior year. Previously, the strongest year-to-date international container volumes at the port was in 2006 with 1,250,798 TEUs.

Domestic volumes in May remained strong with an 8.1 percent increase over May 2018, marking the fifth consecutive month of domestic cargo growth. Alaska volume was up 5.6 percent from May 2018 as the state’s recession ends and investment on the North Slope occurs. Hawaii volumes were up 22.8 percent with an extra vessel call. In addition, the introduction of the 3,620-TEU Kaimana Hila into Matson’s Hawaii service added capacity to the trade. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were up 6.7 percent. Hawaii’s year-to-date volumes were up 6.9 percent.

The NWSA is launching the Gate Efficiency Program this summer to position our gateway to handle additional volumes during peak season. The program incentivizes international container terminal operators to offer extended gate hours from July 2019 through December 2020. The terminal operators will be reimbursed based on the number of weekly off-hour gates offered during the 18-month period.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume was up 22.8 percent year to date to 119,184 metric tons.
  • NWSA auto volume year to date was 62,653 units, up 23.6 percent.

View the May 2019 cargo reports:
May 20 2019

NWSA handles record-breaking international container volumes in April

May 20 2019

Matson Mahimahi
April 2019 was the busiest April ever for The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s international container volumes. At 265,781 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), it marked an 18.4 percent rise over April 2018. International container volumes for the first four months of 2019 also set records at 1,041,303 TEUs, a 13.6 percent increase from the prior year.

“While we continue to monitor the effects of tariffs, we remain committed to supporting our customers move cargo efficiently through our gateway,” said Tong Zhu, NWSA’s chief commercial officer and chief strategy officer.

In April, the PN4 service — THE Alliance’s fourth Asia service — began calling Washington United Terminal (WUT) in our South Harbor. Additionally, the arrival of Matson’s Mahimahi marked the first containership to call at Terminal 5 in the North Harbor since July 2014. Matson’s newest ship the Kaimana Hila also joined the weekly Hawaii service, which will be operated by SSA Terminals. Matson relocated from Terminal 30 to the south berth of Terminal 5 as the north berth of the 185-acre terminal prepares to undergo modernizations.

Total domestic volumes for April increased 5.4 percent to 58,167 TEUs compared to April 2018, marking the fourth consecutive month of domestic cargo growth. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were up 7.1 percent following an unusually robust January. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were up 2.9 percent for this year.

For total container volumes, the NWSA moved 323,948 TEUs in April, up 15.8 percent over the same period last year. Import and export volumes were up 14.3 percent and 22.4 percent respectively. Total container volumes for 2019 reached 1,256,236 TEUs, a 12.2 percent increase from 2018, year to date, with import and export volumes growing 12.8 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume was up 27.6 percent year to date to 90,806 metric tons.
  • NWSA auto volume year to date was 50,156 units, up 22.5 percent.

View the April 2019 cargo reports:
Apr 18 2019

NWSA handles record-breaking international container volumes in first quarter

Apr 18 2019

The Northwest Seaport Alliance handled a record-breaking 775,522 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for total international container volumes in the first quarter of 2019, a 12 percent increase over the same period last year. Total volumes from January through March equaled 932,288 TEUs and are up 11.1 percent, the second-highest first-quarter performance ever.

Total container volumes for March reached 336,828 TEUs, a 11.3 percent increase from last year, with import and export volumes growing 16.7 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively.

At their April meeting, NWSA’s Managing Members voted to approve lease agreements and authorize construction on Terminal 5 in Seattle. Once completed, the 185-acre terminal will be able to handle the ultra-large container vessels increasingly calling at West Coast ports. The deal, including future phase 2 commitment, represents approximately a half-billion dollars of private and public investment in the region’s economy.

The NWSA also received four additional super-post-Panamax container cranes in March, capping a $266 million project that will allow two 18,000-TEU vessels to dock simultaneously at Husky Terminal in Tacoma.

Total domestic volumes for March increased 6.4 percent to 60,444 TEUs compared to March 2018, marking the third consecutive month of domestic cargo growth. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were up 6.2 percent following an unusually robust January. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were up 8.3 percent year to date 2019.

Other cargo highlights:

  • Breakbulk cargo volume was up 30.1 percent year to date to 71,232 metric tons.
  • NWSA auto volume year to date was 40,766 units, up 29.1 percent. The new Taylor Way auto terminal, which opened in late 2018, has brought in additional volumes. The NWSA is also receiving autos diverted from other West Coast ports of entry due to congestion.

View the March 2019 cargo reports:

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