Auto Units Up 6.5% YTD

September full international imports reached the highest level since the pandemic, marking seven straight months of growth. Volumes increased 9.9% vs. August 2024 and 0.9% compared to September 2023. Full international exports decreased 7.4%. Total international volumes increased 0.6% compared with September 2023. September container volumes reached 334,518 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), growing 0.9% compared to September 2023 and 5.9% over August 2024.

Year-to-date, volumes are up 12.1% over last year to 2,472,421 TEUs, with full imports increasing 19.1% and full exports growing 10.8%.

Rail volumes remain strong, increasing 21.8% YTD September. Of note, the 100th train arrived at NWSA in early October from the Minot Intermodal Facility. Since the service launched in October 2020, Rail Modal Group has moved over 20,000 export loads of U.S. ag products via our gateway. Export products include wheat, dried distiller’s grains, soybeans, pulses, bagged lignite, and sugar beet pulp pellets destined for international buyers. On average, three to five trains, with 200 to 220 containers each, leave the facility each month. The facility spans 136 acres and features more than three miles of track.

Domestic container volumes declined 0.6% compared to YTD 2023. Alaska volumes increased 1%, and Hawaii volumes decreased 9%.

Other cargo stats:

• Total breakbulk volume decreased 7.6% for 329,074 metric tons YTD.
• Auto volumes were 264,810 units, up 6.5% YTD.

View the September 2024 cargo reports:

• Container volumes – September 2024
• Cargo statistics – September 2024