The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total year-to-date container volumes through September are up 4 percent, led by a 7 percent increase in international volumes.

Import volumes have reached their highest level since 2012, increasing 3 percent to 1,136,772 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). Meanwhile, exports were up 11 percent at 1,079,822 TEUs. Total international container volume, including empties, reached their highest level since 2007, increasing 7 percent year to date to 2,216,593 TEUs.

Total monthly volumes for the gateway declined 5 percent over September 2016. Imports for the month of September decreased 14 percent to 125,384 TEUs compared to last year. Exports were up 7 percent to 127,790 TEUs. Empty exports grew 59 percent as ocean carriers continued to reposition containers to Asia to keep pace with peak-season demand.

Total domestic volumes for the month decreased 6 percent compared to the same month last year. 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 4 percent year-to-date.

Other cargo:

• Driven by consistent demand from China, bulk log volumes continue to grow. They were up 74 percent to 215,976 metric tons year to date compared with the same period last year.
• Other breakbulk cargo volume was up 10 percent to 155,472 metric tons year to date.
• Autos, at 110,179 units year to date, were down 16 percent compared to the same period last year, reflecting weakening U.S. demand and a shift in manufacturing locations.

View the September 2017 cargo reports:

• Container volumes - September 2017
• Cargo statistics - September 2017