The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has announced its highest monthly container throughput for the year in June, posting 252,232 TEU.
Full imports increased 16.1 per cent over May while full exports increased nearly 5 per cent.
Ocean service schedule consistency has improved at the gateway, helping drive the month-over-month improvement.
Total container volume for June decreased 18.4 per cent over June 2022.
Full imports declined 19.9 per cent while full exports for the month decreased 13.8 per cent.
Year-over-year comparisons continue to reflect the pandemic-driven conditions of 2022 and ongoing soft import demand relative to last year.
Total TEU declined 22.8 per cent year-to-date (YTD) to 1.4 million TEU, with full imports and exports declining 29 per cent and 4.2 per cent, respectively.
Domestic container volume decreased 4.5 per cent YTD 2023 compared to YTD 2022.
Alaska volumes decreased 2 per cent, and Hawaii volumes declined 14.7 per cent.
Washington United Terminals (WUT) received two additional super post-Panamax cranes in June.
These new ZPMC cranes boast a 24-wide container row reach, a lift above crane rail of 175 feet, and a lift capacity of 65 long-tonnes using a spreader and 100 long-tonnes with a cargo beam.
The cranes are expected to be operational later this summer following a commissioning period.
This investment will further expand on WUT’s capability to handle the larger vessels being deployed in the transpacific trade.
READ: NWSA TEU volumes continue to decline
Breakbulk volume decreased 6.2 per cent for 215,154 metric tonnes YTD.
Because of high container freight rates and a lack of availability on container vessels last year, some cargo shifted to Ro-Ro vessels.
Now that container rates are cooling and service level has returned, cargo is transitioning back, the NWSA reported.
In April 2023, the shore power infrastructure at Terminal 5 of the NWSA welcomed the first ship to plug into the infrastructure while at berth.
More recently, the NWSA has applauded the launch of the Puget Sound Zero-Emissions Truck Collaborative.
