The marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma recorded its best July import volumes since 2010 at 139,567 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an 18.3 percent increase compared to the same month a year ago.
At 122,571 TEUs, The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s export volumes also reached their highest level since 2005 and were up 11 percent from the prior year volumes.
Total international container volumes at increased 14.8 percent year over year at 262,139 TEUs.
July volumes validated the strong peak season forecasted by importers. Shippers may also be shipping ahead of planned tariffs.
Meanwhile, these strong international volumes were offset by weak domestic volumes. Total domestic volumes in July decreased 3.4 percent to 65,324 TEUs compared to July 2017. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were down 4.2 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest were down 3 percent.
While total overall container volumes were moderated by the dip in domestics, the numbers remain positive: a 10.6 percent increase in July 2018 compared to July 2017 for a total of 327,462 TEUs. Total year-to-date volumes are down 0.8 percent.
Breakbulk cargo volume grew 27.6 percent year to date to 138,184 metric tons.
Auto volume was down 4.9 percent year to date to 78,424 units.