The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total year-to-date container volumes through November are up 2 percent, echoing the trend we saw over the last few months.

Year-to-date import volumes increased 1 percent to 1,380,445 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). Meanwhile, exports were up 8 percent at 1,320,534 TEUs. Total international container volume, including empties, increased 4 percent year to date to 2,700,979 TEUs. Year-to-date international volumes are currently trending to be the fourth highest in our history.

Total monthly volumes for the gateway declined 13 percent over November 2016. Imports for the month of November decreased 15 percent to 123,730 TEUs compared to last year. Exports were down 10 percent to 120,517 TEUs. Empty exports grew 17 percent as ocean carriers continued to reposition containers to Asia to keep pace with peak-season demand.

Total domestic volumes for the month decreased 15 percent compared to the same month last. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were down 7 percent and are expected to end the year 8 percent lower than 2016 due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest are down 3 percent year to date.

Other cargo highlights:

• Log volumes remain positive year to date. They were up 63 percent to 246,303 metric tons year to date compared with the same period last year.
• Other breakbulk cargo volume was up 14 percent to 189,846 metric tons year to date.
• Weakening U.S. demand and a shift in manufacturing locations continue to impact auto volumes. At 130,071 units year to date, autos were down 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

View the November 2017 cargo reports:

• Container volumes - November 2017
• Cargo statistics - November 2017