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The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has recorded a slight dip in container volumes. The record throughput figures of January still ensured an 8 % year-to-date increase in container cargo through February.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance is a partnership of the Port of Seattle an[ds_preview]d Port of Tacoma. International container volumes for the month of February remained steady with a 9.1 % year-to-date increase despite fewer sailings. Compared to same time last year, full export loads saw a 4 % increase, and import loads were up more than 7 % for the year.

As anticipated, NWSA saw fewer vessel arrivals and amended service schedules by ocean carriers in February due to the Lunar New Year holiday, which began more than 10 days earlier than last year. In observance of the holiday, the factories in China traditionally shut down production for up to two weeks. As a result, international container volumes declined by 0.8 % for the month.

At 102,697 TEUs, full imports declined 4 % compared to February 2016. Meanwhile, full exports recorded 71,243 TEUs, nearly a 7 % dip. Overall, total international TEU volumes grew 1 % in February due to an increase in empty containers.

Total domestic volumes declined almost 8 %, compared to February 2016. Year to date, Alaska volumes declined more than 6 % in February and are expected to decline 5 to 6 % this year due to soft market conditions. The Pacific Northwest trade with Hawaii, however, is expected to show modest growth for the year.

Breakbulk cargo was down 4 % to 25,043 metric tons due to market conditions, autos units were down 6 % to 23,654 units due to market conditions.

Source: NWSA
Source: NWSA