Volumes for the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) decreased by 8.8 per cent to 231,799 TEU in December 2022.
While full imports decreased by 12.4 per cent, full exports experienced a growth of 14.9 per cent, marking the first increase in over a year.
For the full year, volumes decreased by 9.4 per cent to 3,384,018 TEU, with both full imports and exports seeing declines of 14.1 per cent and 19.7 per cent, respectively.
NWSA attributed the decline in imports to high inventory levels, while the decline in exports can be attributed to a combination of factors including the strong dollar, ongoing tariffs in key markets, and reduced vessel capacity due to voided sailings.
READ: NWSA TEU November volumes fall by quarter
In an effort to improve and expand its handling capabilities, NWSA announced that Washington United Terminals (WUT) will be receiving two additional super post-Panamax cranes in the second quarter of 2023.
These new cranes, manufactured by ZPMC, will have a container row reach of 24 feet, a lift above crane rail of 175 feet, and a lift capacity of 65 long-tons using a spreader and 100 long-tons with a cargo beam.
The cranes are expected to be operational in mid-July following the commissioning period.
Domestically, container volumes decreased by 1.3 per cent compared to 2021, with volumes in Alaska decreasing by 0.2 per cent and Hawaii volumes declining by 5.6 per cent.
