The Northwest Seaport Alliance recorded total container volume of 239,220 TEUs in July 2026, a 4.2% decline compared to July 2025, with full imports declining 11.6% and full exports broadly flat for the month.
Year-to-date through July, total volumes reached 1,672,744 TEUs, down 11.3 percent, with full imports declining 13.7% and full exports decreasing 1.1%.
The year-on-year declines reflect the elevated baseline established in 2025 when cargo was shipped ahead of anticipated tariff changes.
Against the five-year average, year-to-date full exports remain 2.6% above trend, indicating underlying export resilience.
Domestic container volumes decreased 0.8 percent year-to-date compared to 2025, with Alaska down 0.4% and Hawaii declining 2.6%.
Breakbulk volumes provided a bright spot, with year-to-date tonnage of 249,622 metric tonnes up 19.2% as strong industrial demand continues to support volumes.
Auto volumes of 161,743 units year-to-date were down 4.9%, reflecting continued tariff impacts on the automotive sector.
HMM has announced a major investment at Washington United Terminals that will expand annual cargo-handling capacity from approximately 590,000 TEUs to 880,000 TEUs, an increase of nearly 50%.
The investment includes replacing two aging cranes and adding two rubber-tired gantry cranes, with equipment delivery and commissioning expected by 2028.
The upgrades will allow the terminal to accommodate larger container vessels, improve cargo flow and increase overall terminal productivity, strengthening the NWSA’s ability to serve growing trade volumes and reinforcing the importance of collaboration among ocean carriers, terminal operators, labour and supply chain partners in modernising critical marine terminal infrastructure.
