The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) recorded strong import container volumes in July, which suggest that peak shipping season is just around the corner.
Full import container volumes stood at 111,739 TEUs in July this year, jumping nearly 12 percent, compared to 99,949 TEUs in the same month last year.
In addition, full export volumes grew 17.2 percent, from 62,626 TEUs in July 2015 to 73,403 TEUs in the same month this year.
Through the first seven months of the year, total NWSA container volumes amounted to 2,008,824 TEUs, a slight decrease from 2,014,820 TEUs in the same period last year.
Full import container volumes grew 2.6 percent to 760,923 TEUs in the seven-month period this year, from 741,834 percent in the same period in 2015.
Additionally, full export volumes went up to 542,258 TEUs in the period between January and July 2016, from 480,278 TEUs in the same period last year, an increase of 12.9 percent.
“In other cargo news, auto imports dipped nearly 3 percent year to date in July, and breakbulk cargo continues to struggle, down 33 percent due to the strong dollar and slowing economic growth in China,” the alliance comprised of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma said.
Due to the anticipated increase in volume during peak season, the alliance recently launched a program to help extend gate hours at international terminals to reduce congestion and keep cargo flowing through the peak.
The program will kick off on August 22, 2016, and last up to 12 weeks, according to the alliance.