Nearly 1.1 million containers crossed Port of Tacoma docks through July, marking a 24 percent increase year-to-date, according to a report released late Tuesday.
Despite the gain on the year, container volume growth appears to be moderating, as expected. International volumes had posted double-digit gains through the first six months of the year but grew only 3 percent in July. With lagging domestic volumes factored in, overall container growth was flat compared to July 2012.
Additionally, the West Coast benefited to some extent last summer from cargo diverted from the East and Gulf coasts due to uncertainty surrounding labor negotiations with those ports. That cargo appears to have returned to the East and Gulf coast ports in 2013.
Meanwhile, non-containerized cargo volumes continue to be mixed year to date. Intermodal lifts mirrored container volumes, posting a 28 percent increase to 283,996 lifts. Auto imports grew 2 percent, propelled by a 21 percent increase on the month due to additional vessel calls, and breakbulk volumes continued to lag behind last year's record-breaking volumes, down 21 percent.