Tacoma container volumes continue double-digit growth in November

Port of Tacoma

Port of Tacoma container volumes continued to see double-digit growth in November, marking a 13 percent improvement year to date to 1,534,476 TEUs.

Demand for auto parts, furniture, toys, tires and sporting goods helped drive full import container volumes up nearly 24 percent year to date through November to 545,242 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). Meanwhile, agricultural products and such bulk commodities as scrap paper and wood in the rough helped export volumes improve 17 percent to 402,410 TEUs.

Breakbulk volumes continued to surge in November, up 77 percent year to date. Along with strong demand overseas for construction and agricultural equipment, the Port's two main roll-on, roll-off carriers, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and World Logistics, have increased the number of vessel calls and brought larger vessels to Tacoma this past year.

In other cargo news, intermodal lifts continued to reflect the Port's growing container volumes, increasing nearly 29 percent year to date. Auto imports fell nearly 8 percent for the same time period, and logs continue to lag. < Korea Shipping Gazette >