PORT OF TACOMA UPGRADES CARGO FORECASTS

PORT OF TACOMA UPGRADES CARGO FORECASTS    The Port of Tacoma, Washington, now expects 2002 to be its best year ever for container volumes, after posting 674,557 TEUs from January through June.
   In June alone, the port handled 148,800 TEUs — an all-time record.
   If the current trend holds, Tacoma expects to handle 1,440,000 TEUs this year. The port’s high on record was 1,376,000 TEUs in 2000.
   In the first half of 2002, international container volumes were up 15 percent. The Alaskan container trade dropped about two percent. Increased trade with China resulted from Lloyd-Triestino having started a new China service through Tacoma in April 2002.
   In addition, K Line’s larger vessels now call at Tacoma, as do ships on Hyundai’s Pacific Northwest service.