NWSA TEU Volumes Decline 16.4% in June

The Northwest Seaport Alliance handled 287,036 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in June 2020, a 16.4% decrease compared to June 2019. Full imports declined 15.1%, while full exports decreased 8%. For the first half of 2020, overall container volumes declined 18.3% compared to 2019. The NWSA handled a total of 1,564,263 TEUs year to date. Full imports declined 18.3%, while full exports decreased 9.3%.

The economic fallout from the global pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains across the country and around the world. The NWSA gateway experienced a total of 55 blank sailings through June, driven by COVID-19 and the lingering trade dispute with China.

The NWSA remains committed to handling future growth. A year after breaking ground, the Terminal 5 Modernization Project completed phase one of pile driving. The pipe piles were installed to reinforce the upland portion of the wharf and support the new super-post-Panamax cranes arriving next year. Our total year-to-date domestic container volumes dipped 6.9%. Alaska and Hawaii volumes declined 7.5% and 3.8%, respectively.