NWSA container volumes decline post-Lunar New Year

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volumes declined 9.6 percent in March 2018 compared to March 2017 for a total of 302,516 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). Overall total year-to-date volumes are down 6.7 percent. Imports and exports declined 8.7 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.

NWSA’s March volumes were negatively impacted as factories in China shut down production for the Lunar New Year, causing carriers to omit service calls as a result. In addition, vessel delays caused some calls to slip into April. Total international container volumes, at 245,723 TEUs, decreased 10.1 percent from March 2017. At 117,452 TEUs, import volumes were down 12.8 percent from the prior year volumes. Exports were down 7.5 percent at 128,271 TEUs.

Earlier this month, the MSC Laurence arrived at NWSA’s Terminal 46 in Seattle, making it the largest vessel to call the terminal. The vessel’s capacity of almost 13,000 TEUs is on trend with the shipping industry as carriers seek increased economies of scale to reduce operating costs and environmental impact.

Total domestic volumes in March decreased 7 percent to 56,792 TEUs compared to March 2017. Alaska’s volumes were down 7.6 percent due to soft market conditions. Hawaii volumes through the Pacific Northwest decreased 4 percent.

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