Imports drive June container volume gains at Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma

Container volumes through the Port of Tacoma improved 1.3% year to date in June, driven largely by rising import volumes.

Import container traffic increased 13.4% year to date, with exports improving 2%. Overall, 87,610 TEU moved through Tacoma last month.

Domestic container traffic to Alaska and Hawaii is down nearly 4%, but volumes continue to build moving into summer.

For the second month in a row, June marked the highest monthly domestic volume so far this year with 44,374 TEU crossing the port’s docks.

Breakbulk volumes, auto exports and intermodal lifts continue to outpace last year's numbers. Demand for agricultural and industrial equipment overseas continues to fuel breakbulk's 95% year to date gain. Autos improved 21% and intermodal lifts were up 16% year to date.

U.S. economic news remains bleak, with retail sales declining for the third straight month in June and consumer confidence continuing to slide. Economic woes linger in Europe and China continues to show signs of slowing. < Korea Shipping Gazette >