NWSA moves record-breaking international container volumes through May

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s total container volumes in May reached 315,792 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 2.1 percent increase over May 2018. While international imports were down 4.7 percent, exports were up 6.6 percent over May 2018. Total container volumes for the first five months of the year reached 1,572,028 TEUs, a 10.1 percent increase from the same period in 2018, with import and export volumes growing 8.9 percent and 12.8 percent respectively.

International container volumes for January through May 2019 set a record at 1,287,947 TEUs, a 10.8 percent increase from the prior year. Previously, the strongest year-to-date international container volumes at the port was in 2006 with 1,250,798 TEUs. Domestic volumes in May remained strong with an 8.1 percent increase over May 2018, marking the fifth consecutive month of domestic cargo growth. 

Alaska volume was up 5.6 percent from May 2018 as the state’s recession ends and investment on the North Slope occurs. Hawaii volumes were up 22.8 percent with an extra vessel call. In addition, the introduction of the 3,620-TEU Kaimana Hila into Matson’s Hawaii service added capacity to the trade. Alaska’s year-to-date volumes were up 6.7 percent. Hawaii’s year-to-date volumes were up 6.9 percent.

The NWSA is launching the Gate Efficiency Program this summer to position our gateway to handle additional volumes during peak season. The program incentivizes international container terminal operators to offer extended gate hours from July 2019 through December 2020.  

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