The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) reported a 12.4% year-on-year decline in container traffic, despite recording growth in export volumes during the reporting period. The overall drop reflects weaker import demand and lower total throughput, even as outbound shipments remained resilient.
Export performance was supported by continued overseas demand for agricultural products, refrigerated cargo and other key commodities shipped through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. However, the increase in exports was insufficient to offset the decline in import containers, which weighed on overall cargo volumes.
Port officials attributed the lower throughput to changing trade patterns, inventory adjustments by retailers and continued uncertainty in global supply chains. Shifts in shipping services and vessel deployments also influenced container flows across the gateway.
Despite the overall decline, the NWSA said it remains focused on strengthening cargo competitiveness through investments in terminal infrastructure, operational efficiency and sustainability initiatives. The alliance continues to work with shipping lines, cargo owners and logistics providers to attract additional services and support long-term trade growth.
The latest figures highlight the mixed outlook for container trade, with robust export demand offering some support while softer import volumes continue to impact overall throughput at one of the United States’ key Pacific Northwest gateways.