The following release was published by NWSA:
Total international container volume for December 2024 increased 19.6% over the same month last year. Full international import volume increased 34.3%, the tenth consecutive month of growth. Full international exports decreased 3.3%. Total container volume (international and domestic) for the month reached 304,748 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), growing 15.8% compared to December 2023.
Improved vessel consistency and increased vessel calls contributed to strong container volumes. The number of international container voyages reached the highest level since 2020, with 41 more voyages than 2023. 2024 volumes are up 12.3% over last year to 3,340,733 TEUs, with full imports increasing 19.6% and full exports growing 8.1%.
Domestic container volumes declined 1% compared to 2023. Alaska volumes increased 0.1%, and Hawaii volumes decreased 6.2%.
Other cargo stats:
Total breakbulk volume decreased 11.2% for 402,681 metric tons for the year. Auto volumes were 337,749 units, down 0.3% for the year. The NWSA continues to work on initiatives that increase capacity and improve efficiencies.
Inland Rail Hub Initiative
The NWSA welcomed a new rail connection with Eastern Washington in February. The intermodal ramp — located in Wallula, Washington, and operated by Tri-Cities Intermodal (TCI) — provides Washington agriculture exporters with direct rail service to NWSA marine terminals and global markets.
The NWSA launched a cargo and service incentive program in the spring aimed at bolstering international container rail cargo volumes and improving service delivery in the gateway. The incentives include the Voyage Consistency & On-Time Arrival Award Program and the International Container Rail Cargo Incentive.
First-in-Class Service
NWSA finished first in the West Coast Ports category in Logistics Management’s Quest for Quality Awards for the second year in a row and highest in three of five categories: Ease of Doing Business (second year in a row), Value (second year in a row), and Intermodal Network.
Infrastructure Development
Phase 2 of the Terminal 5 Modernization Project was completed in March. Terminal 5 now has 185-acres of cargo capacity and can handle ultra-large vessels. The project included two reconfigured berths with six state-of-the-art super-post Panamax cranes to enhance operational efficiency. On-dock rail at Terminal 5 benefits agriculture exporters while also reducing truck traffic. Additional refrigerated plug-ins are coming in the future.
The NWSA partnered with PTSC on a partial reconfiguration of Terminal 46’s yard to add additional auto storage. The changes added around 750 spots, which brings the total auto capacity to around 7,750 units. In February 2024, the auto business launched at Terminal 46 when the NWSA welcomed the GLOVIS vessel Silver Sky. Almost 19,000 auto units have transited through the facility since.
Source: NWSA