Port of Seattle faces sharp October TEU decline

November 18, 2025

The Port of Seattle has handled 233,927 TEUs in October 2025, down 14.4 per cent from the same month last year.

Tariffs continued to weigh on container volumes, and year-over-year (YoY) comparisons were affected by Canadian volumes that were disrupted by labour issues in the fall of 2024.

Full international imports fell 25.2 per cent compared to the previous October, while full exports increased 5.4 per cent.

Year-to-date (YTD) container volumes totalled 2.66 million TEUs, which was a decline of 2.9 per cent.

Full imports declined 7.6 per cent YTD, and full exports declined 2.2 per cent.

Domestic container volumes increased 1.2 per cent compared to YTD 2024. Shipments to Alaska remained flat, while volumes to Hawaii rose by 7.8 per cent.

READ: NWSA August volumes fall 18.7 per cent YoY

The Port of Seattle, acting on behalf of the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), awarded a contract for the Terminal 18 shore power project.

Onsite work is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with completion scheduled for late 2027.

Terminal 18 will become the third international cargo terminal in Washington state to be shore power capable. Terminal 5’s system was completed in 2023, and Husky Terminal’s system was completed in 2025.

The NWSA has set a goal of providing shore power at all international terminals by 2030. Washington United Terminal will be the next international terminal to receive this infrastructure.

READ: NWSA September volumes mixed as imports fall sharply

The TOTE Maritime Alaska Terminal, a domestic facility in Tacoma Harbor, has been shore power capable since 2010.

Total breakbulk volume decreased 18.1 per cent YTD, totalling 282,123 metric tonnes. High interest rates and tariffs continued to impact this segment.

Auto volumes fell to 229,466 units, representing a 21.8 per cent decline YTD, as nationwide auto sales slowed due to high interest rates and tariffs.

The Minot Intermodal Facility in North Dakota marked its fifth anniversary, highlighting a successful rail-to-port partnership that strengthened US agricultural export flows to international markets through NWSA gateway.