The Northwest Sea Alliance (NWSA) has reported a solid end to 2023, with full international imports and exports both marking their fourth consecutive month of volume growth in December.
NWSA noted that exports reached their highest level since March 2021. Year-to-date (YTD) import volumes were consistent with the entire market, while exports continued to recover from 2022, closing the year in positive territory.
Container shipments in December 2023 totalled 263,171 TEU, representing a 13.5 per cent increase over December 2022.
According to NWSA, complete imports grew 3.4 per cent this month, while complete exports increased 44.6 percent compared to 2022.
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The port authority reported 2023 volumes declined 12.1 per cent compared to 2022 to 2.97 million TEU, with full imports declining 13.7 per cent. Full exports grew 4.9 per cent.
Domestic container volume increased 0.4 per cent 2023 compared to 2022. Alaska volumes increased 3.4 per cent, and Hawaii volumes declined 12.3 per cent.
Two all-electric super post-Panamax cranes and three hybrid cranes arrived at Terminal 5 in the Seattle Harbor in December.
In November 2023, NWSA reported that container volumes totalled 230,787 TEU, a 6.6 per cent decrease from November 2022.