The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has released its monthly statistics, revealing a decelerating pattern in the expansion of container volumes.
Year-over-year (YoY) comparisons continue to reflect the pandemic-driven circumstances of 2022, according to the authority, as well as persistent lower import demand relative to the previous year.
Container volumes at NWSA reached 234,875 TEU in July 2023, with overall container volume declining 9.9 per cent from July 2022.
Full month imports climbed by 0.2 per cent, while full month exports declined by 7.6 per cent.
Total TEU fell 21.2 per cent year on year to 1.6 million TEU, with total imports and exports down 25.7 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively.
Domestic container volume decreased 2.4 per cent year-to-date (YTD) 2023 compared to YTD 2022. Alaska volumes increased 0.5 per cent, and Hawaii volumes declined 14.6 per cent.
READ: NWSA TEU volumes continue to decline
Additionally, breakbulk volume decreased 10.3 per cent for 253,128 metric tons YTD. Due to high container freight rates and lack of availability on container vessels last year, some cargo shifted to Ro-Ro vessels.
As container rates are cooling and service level has returned, NWSA said cargo is transitioning back. Auto volumes were 187,615 units, up 121.6 per cent.
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NWSA finished first in the West Coast Ports category and highest in the Ease of Doing Business and Value categories amongst west coast ports in Logistics Management Quest for Quality Awards.
In July 2023, NWSA announced its highest monthly container throughput for the year in June, posting 252,232 TEU.
