The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) kicked off the year with significant cargo growth, fueled by high vessel schedule reliability, consistent rail service, and new customers.
January volumes surpassed the five-year average, reflecting strong market demand. NWSA’s total container volume, including international and domestic shipments, reached 264,869 TEUs, reflecting a 25.4% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
Domestic container volumes rose by 5.5%, with Alaska seeing a 2.4% increase and Hawaii experiencing a significant 24.6% jump.
In contrast, auto volumes declined by 32.6%, totalling 19,881 units for the first month of the year.
Full international imports surged by 34.7%, marking the 11th consecutive month of growth and standing 9.5% above the gateway’s five-year average for January. This increase was driven by new shippers, early inventory replenishment ahead of the Lunar New Year, and proactive orders to avoid potential tariffs.
Full international exports grew by 4.5% and exceeded the five-year average by 5.7%. Strong demand for Washington state agricultural products helped maintain solid volumes despite challenges such as strong currency exchange rates and tariff uncertainty.
