Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tacoma Port Breaks 10 Percent Cargo Growth for Second Straight Month

After seeing consistent month-over-month decreases in cargo volumes for 20 of the 24 months in 2009 and 2010, the Port of Tacoma roared back in January, posting a solid double-digit percentage increase in total cargo handled an increases in both export and import boxes.

The port moved a total of 105,289 TEUs in January, a 13.3-percent increase over the same period in 2010. It was the fourth month of positive growth for the port, the second straight month of double-digit growth, and the best monthly showing in more than two years.

The port also boasted positive gains in both loaded export and loaded import container volumes for the month.

Port officials report handling a total of 35,054 loaded inbound TEUs, a 5.4 percent increase over January 2010. The port also handled a total of 26,621 loaded outbound TEUs, a sizable 24.3 percent increase over the year-ago period. It was the best January for loaded export container volume at the port since 2008.