For the month of April, total container volumes remained steady as the new ocean carrier alliance deployments took effect, resulting in 0.5 percent growth over the same month last year. Year-to-date volumes were up 8 percent.

April international container volumes performed well. At 110,821 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), full imports grew 6 percent compared to April 2016, as retailers continued to rebuild inventory levels and a favorable market outlook fueled import demand. Full exports were up 1 percent to 77,558 TEUs. Empty exports grew 81.5 percent as ocean carriers began repositioning empties to Asia in preparation for peak season. Total international TEU volumes, including empties, increased by 8 percent compared to last April.

April’s full imports brought year-to-date volumes to 462,427 TEUs, up 11 percent. Meanwhile, full exports grew 5 percent to 324,743 TEUs. Total international containers, including empties, increased 12 percent year to date.

Total domestic volumes for the month declined 21 percent compared to April 2016. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes declined 8 percent and are expected to decline 5 to 6 percent this year due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes declined 9 percent.

Other cargo:

• Breakbulk cargo was down 10 percent, to 55,119 metric tons year to date, due to soft market conditions.
• Autos, at 53,925 units year to date, slipped 13 percent compared to the same time last year, reflecting weakening U.S. demand and shifting manufacturing locations.
• Driven by consistent demand from China, log volumes were up 165.3 percent, to 94,547 metric tons, over the same time last year.

View the April 2017 cargo reports:

• Container volumes - April 2017
• Cargo statistics - April 2017