Monthly container volumes for the month of September show drops at five of six major West Coast ports, with the only glimmer of positive news coming from a small uptick in volumes at the Port of Seattle.
The six ports, which combined handle more than 90 percent of all containerized traffic on the West Coast, each remain down by double-digit percentages for the collective January to September period.
Container volume numbers are typically released two to three weeks after the end of the reporting month.
In Southern California, the Port of Long Beach reported a 20.6 percent drop in total monthly box volumes, falling to 554,837 TEUs in September compared to the year-ago period. The Long Beach port's total volumes for the year are off a cumulative 24.6 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
The adjacent Port of Los Angeles shed nearly 110,000 TEUs, or 15.78 percent, during September 2009 compared to the year-ago period to record a total monthly volume of 583,557 TEUs. The Los Angeles port's total container volumes have dropped 16.28 percent since January compared to the first nine months of 2008.
In Northern California, the Port of Oakland's total monthly container volumes fell 3.7 percent compared to September 2008, ending the month with a total of 182,000 TEUs handled. The Bay Area port is off 11.6 percent in total box volume for the year compared to the January to September period a year ago.
In Washington State, the Port of Seattle, the one positive note of the major West Coast ports, saw a 4.8 percent uptick in monthly container volumes. Seattle's total box volumes grew just over 6,000 TEUs compared to September last year. Despite the positive numbers for September, Seattle's year-to-date total container numbers are down 14.2 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
Across the Sound, the Port of Tacoma reported a 17.4 percent drop in total monthly container volumes, shedding nearly 31,000 TEUs compared to September 2008. The port ended the month with a total of 146,403 TEUs handled. Tacoma's total container volumes through September have slid 15.6 percent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
The Canadian Port of Vancouver saw total monthly container volumes during September drop 19.1 percent over September 2008, shedding 43,630 TEUs to end the month with a total of 184,559 TEUs handled. Vancouver's year-to-date volumes are down 15.2 percent compared to the same January to September period last year.
The six ports, which combined handle more than 90 percent of all containerized traffic on the West Coast, each remain down by double-digit percentages for the collective January to September period.
Container volume numbers are typically released two to three weeks after the end of the reporting month.
In Southern California, the Port of Long Beach reported a 20.6 percent drop in total monthly box volumes, falling to 554,837 TEUs in September compared to the year-ago period. The Long Beach port's total volumes for the year are off a cumulative 24.6 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
The adjacent Port of Los Angeles shed nearly 110,000 TEUs, or 15.78 percent, during September 2009 compared to the year-ago period to record a total monthly volume of 583,557 TEUs. The Los Angeles port's total container volumes have dropped 16.28 percent since January compared to the first nine months of 2008.
In Northern California, the Port of Oakland's total monthly container volumes fell 3.7 percent compared to September 2008, ending the month with a total of 182,000 TEUs handled. The Bay Area port is off 11.6 percent in total box volume for the year compared to the January to September period a year ago.
In Washington State, the Port of Seattle, the one positive note of the major West Coast ports, saw a 4.8 percent uptick in monthly container volumes. Seattle's total box volumes grew just over 6,000 TEUs compared to September last year. Despite the positive numbers for September, Seattle's year-to-date total container numbers are down 14.2 percent compared to the January to September period last year.
Across the Sound, the Port of Tacoma reported a 17.4 percent drop in total monthly container volumes, shedding nearly 31,000 TEUs compared to September 2008. The port ended the month with a total of 146,403 TEUs handled. Tacoma's total container volumes through September have slid 15.6 percent compared to the first nine months of 2008.
The Canadian Port of Vancouver saw total monthly container volumes during September drop 19.1 percent over September 2008, shedding 43,630 TEUs to end the month with a total of 184,559 TEUs handled. Vancouver's year-to-date volumes are down 15.2 percent compared to the same January to September period last year.
