Seattle, Tacoma ports see ninth straight month of cargo growth

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, whose operations encompass the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma reported November volumes are up 18 percent compared with November 2014, due in part to last year’s West Coast dockworker contract negotiations.    The Northwest Seaport Alliance, whose operations encompass the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma, said the port handled 283,945 TEU in November compared with the 240,367 TEU it handled in November 2014. It was the ninth consecutive month of growth.
   “November’s container volumes appear particularly robust when compared to November 2014, with an increase of 18 percent. That month marked the beginning of the West Coast port disruptions during contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association,” the alliance noted.
   Through the first 11 months of the year, the two ports handled 3,339,057 TEUs, an increase of 5.9 percent.
   Containerized exports improved 11 percent year to date to 1,209,562 TEUs on the strength of the state of Washington’s agricultural sector.
   Containerized imports rose 5 percent year to date to 1,322,486 TEUs, while domestic volumes remained flat at 807,009 TEUs.