The Northwest Seaport Alliance recorded September 2026 total container volume of 265,692 TEUs, down 8.1% compared to September 2025, with full imports down 4.4% and full exports declining 9.6% year-on-year.
However, on a month-on-month basis September delivered a significant sequential improvement, with full imports up 21.5% and full exports up 24.2% over August, indicating strengthening momentum heading into the final quarter of the year.
Year-on-year declines continue to reflect the elevated 2025 baseline established when cargo was shipped ahead of anticipated tariff changes.
Year-to-date through September, total volumes reached 2,174,231 TEUs, down 10.6 percent, with full imports declining 12.2% and full exports down 2.3%.
Domestic container volumes decreased 0.3% year-to-date, with Alaska up 0.6% and Hawaii down 5 percent.
Breakbulk volumes continued to outperform, with year-to-date September tonnage of 320,335 metric tonnes up 13.4% on strong industrial demand.
Auto volumes of 208,280 units were down 2.9% year-to-date, with the tariff impact on the automotive sector partially offset by an increase in diverted units from Canada due to congestion.
The NWSA noted strong interest from beneficial cargo owners in the gateway’s consistent rail service, particularly low rail dwell times.
Evergreen’s HTW service will resume Tacoma calls in late October for 13 weekly voyages, providing exporters with an additional direct ocean service option during peak reefer season, connecting the gateway to key Asian markets and supporting equipment availability and agricultural export capacity.
The NWSA remains the second-largest reefer export gateway in the United States.
