NWSA Unfazed by Hanjin’s Woes

Hanjin Shipping’s filing for receivership did not impact cargo volumes in the Puget Sound in August, with the Northwest Seaport Alliance reporting the highest monthly container volumes for an August since 2012.  

Full imports at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma improved 4 percent in August 2016 compared to August 2015, while full exports surged 15 percent month over month. Overall, the ports handled 313,811 TEUs in August 2016.

However, the busy August did not help the two ports improve their container volumes year to date which are still slightly below the results recorded during the same period in 2015.

Total container volumes fell less than one percent to 2,322,999 TEUs, due to the persistent decline of empty containers and lagging domestic volumes. Empty containers have fallen nearly 22 percent year to date, while domestic volumes are down 3 percent.

Year to date, full imports at the ports are up 3 percent to 879,435 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) and exports increased 13 percent to 625,523 TEUs.

In other cargo segments, the alliance’s breakbulk cargo is down 29 percent year to date to 128,545 metric tons as the global downturn in agricultural, mining and construction equipment, and a strong U.S. dollar impact volumes, the ports said.

Log exports declined 48 percent year to date to 92,840 metric tons due to decreased demand in China and competition from New Zealand.

Autos fell 5 percent to 119,758 units as vehicle manufacturers move factory locations and shift the supply chain, according to the alliance.