Puget Sound Reports Container Volume Growth
Less congestion and efficient cargo movement helped international container volumes through the Puget Sound gateway improve 14 percent in June compared to June 2014, the port reported.
Cargo has been rerouted through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma as other U.S. West Coast ports continue to struggle with congestion stemming from the contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union earlier this year.
Through the first half of the year, volumes remain stable with the Puget Sound gateway handling nearly 1.8 million TEUs, a 3 percent gain year to date, the port said. Containerized exports improved 5 percent on the year to 628,718 TEUs, while imports grew nearly 3 percent to 715,307 TEUs. Domestic volumes remained flat, up 1 percent year to date to 433,715 TEUs. Empty container exports skyrocketed in June, up 86 percent year to date, as excess equipment that accumulated during the contract negotiations was sent back to Asia.
Breakbulk volumes however were down 2 percent to 141,608 metric tons, while grain exports fell 8 percent to 3,554,868 metric tons. Auto imports continued to grow, up 5 percent to 93,890 units.
