Reduced vessel calls continue to negatively impact NWSA import and export volumes, driven in large by congestion at other ports. In addition, many major retailers built up inventories earlier in the year—contributing to weaker than normal peak-season volumes. The strong dollar is creating headwinds for many export agricultural commodities, making them less cost competitive in the global market. Total container volume for the month decreased 15.5% to 285,315 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with September full imports and exports declining 18.9% and 21%, respectively, year-over-year. Year-to-date volumes declined 7.3% to 2,633,054 TEUs, with full imports and exports declining 11.4% and 21.7%, respectively.

Logistics service providers continue to choose the NWSA gateway for expansion. Recent examples include:

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced a new transload facility in Tacoma, which will open in November. The operation complements the direct, container-only joint service BNSF Railway launched in August between its Tacoma facility and Chicago.
• Ray-Mont Logistics signed a lease for Terminal 10 in Seattle. Ray-Mont’s business supports the growth of agricultural exports, with 8.1 of the 13.19-acre site to be used as a containerized transload facility focused on agricultural products.
• World Distribution Services (WDS) announced the opening of a new 300,000-square-foot distribution facility in Tacoma. The facility will support UWL, who has contracted with Swire Shipping on an express ocean service from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Seattle.

Domestic container volumes increased 0.7% compared to YTD September 2021. Alaska volumes increased 2.4% while Hawaii volumes declined 6.4%.

• YTD September breakbulk cargo volumes grew 34.4% for 355,952 metric tons.
• Auto volumes were 111,514 units, down 12.6% over YTD September 2021.

View the September 2022 cargo reports:

• Container volumes – September 2022
• Cargo statistics – September 2022