Port of Seattle’s traffic soared 42% in October

Port of Seattle’s traffic soared 42% in October    The port of Seattle, continuing to benefit from cargo diversions and overall transpacific cargo growth, handled 42 percent more containers in October than during the same month in 2003.
   The port’s October container volume reached 192,131 TEUs, beating the previous monthly record, set in September, by 30,511 TEUs.
   Year-to-date container volume is up 14.2 percent and the port of Seattle expects to handle a yearlong throughput of 1.72 million TEUs.
   The Washington port has already handled more containers this year than it did in 1998, when it moved a record 1.54 million TEUs.
   “This is a validation of the investments we’ve made in our marine terminals and our transportation infrastructure over the past decade,” said Paige Miller, president of the port of Seattle commission.
   Trade with China largely spurred the port's growth. The country became the port of Seattle’s largest trading partner by container volume, tonnage and dollar value in 2003.
   Import distribution centers operated by major importers such as Target, Wal Mart and Home Deport also have opened in the Puget Sound region in recent years, aiding cargo growth, the port said.