Port Traffic Trends: Baltimore, Georgia, Long Beach, Port Manatee, Seattle/Tacoma

Baltimore: Record Box Count in August

Container throughput at the Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals hit a monthly high in August of 86,149 TEUs, an increase of 24.5 percent from August 2014. The port’s previous single-month record of 79,644 TEU containers was just set in June. That brought the 2015 year-to-date total to 565,374 TEUs and an increase from January-August 2014 of 12.7 percent, putting the Maryland port solidly on course for yet another banner year.

Just a month ago, the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) reported handling record general cargo tonnage in FY 2015 as well as the most TEUs in a 12-month period.

Baltimore’s public marine terminals set records in calendar year 2014 for general cargo, autos and containers. Overall, the port’s public and private marine terminals processed 29.5 million tons of international cargo valued at nearly $53 billion.

According to the MPA, Baltimore’s port business generates about 13,650 direct jobs; about 127,600 jobs in Maryland are linked to port activities. Other economic benefits to Maryland from port activity include nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local tax revenues.

Georgia: Container Traffic Hits September High

This September marked the seventh consecutive month of record container throughput at the Port of Savannah. Last month’s box count of 317,411 TEUs was up 7.3 percent from a year ago, giving the port its busiest September ever for container traffic and a record year-to-date total of nearly 2.9 million TEUs.

"We are pleasantly surprised to see volumes remaining above last year's double digit growth," said Executive Director Curtis Foltz of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). "We anticipate, at some point this year, to begin seeing throughput leveling off to more normal patterns."

At its facilities statewide, the GPA also reports ro/ro traffic rose 4.6 percent September to 50,305 units. Other September data show total cargo up 5.0 percent to 2.52 million short tons, with the GPA’s Savannah facilities accounting for 2.52 million tons ( 5.8 percent) and those in Brunswick for 197,366 tons ( 3.6 percent).  

Long Beach: Record September Delivers Best Quarter in Port’s History

The Port of Long Beach last month achieved the busiest September and quarter in its 104-year history, signaling a return to pre-recession trade levels.

"In recent months, Long Beach has seen a robust return of once-diverted cargo," said Port CEO Jon Slangerup. "We greatly appreciate our shippers’ continued confidence in the Port of Long Beach."

This September’s 655,624 TEUs beat the September 2014 tally by 4.1 percent  The year’s third quarter – July through September – topped 2 million TEUs  for the first time ever and  topped last year’s third quarter count by14.8 percent.

The September data, show gains from a year ago of 6.1 percent for export-laden containers, 14.8 percent for empties, and a 1.9 percent drop for imports.

The third quarter data reflects increases from third quarter 2014 of 10.6 percent for imports and 10.5 for exports.
During the first nine months of 2015 the port experienced a 5.2 percent increase in container volume and at that rate would finish the year with more than 7 million TEUs for only the third time in its history -- the last time was 2007.

View the latest monthly cargo numbers.

Port Manatee Container Trade Mushroomed in FY 2015

Port Manatee’s container trade skyrocketed 83 percent in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, to 25,778 TEUs from 14,078 TEUs a year ago.  Imports alone were up 65 percent, to 15,565 TEUs from 9,416 TEUs, while exports more than doubled, to 10,213 TEUs from 4,662 TEUs.

"The upturn is indicative of a very encouraging trend," said Port Executive Director Carlos Buqueras. "Port Manatee is on the right track in diversifying its business and generating more jobs for Manatee County."

The port attributes much of the gain to  "consistently growing volumes of inbound refrigerated produce, as well as outbound dry cargos" transported by the weekly service  launched in November 2014 by World Direct Shipping between Port Manatee and the Mexican Gulf coast Port of Coatzacoalcos. Both ports are AAPA corporate members.

Longtime Port Manatee tenant Fresh Del Monte Produce also continues to bring a steady stream of containers filled with chilled produce to Port Manatee from Central America while increasing dry cargo exports.

Located near the entrance of Tampa Bay, Port Manatee offers ten 40-foot-draft berths to container, bulk, breakbulk, heavylift, project and general cargo customers. The port generates more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact for the local community, while supporting more than 24,000 jobs, without levying ad-valorem taxes.

 
Port Manatee’s two mobile harbor cranes offloading refrigerated containers from a Fresh Del Monte Produce vessel.
Photo/Port Manatee

Puget Sound Container Volumes Continue Upward Trend in September

Container volumes through The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s facilities improved 5 percent through the third quarter of 2015.

Full containerized imports and empty exports fueled the seventh-straight month of growth as retailers increased inventories to prepare for the holiday shopping season. Import volumes increased nearly 5 percent year to date to 1,088,615 TEUs, and exports jumped nearly 9 percent to 982,206 TEUs. Domestic volumes remained flat, up 1 percent on the year.

Full export containers suffered in September, down 4 percent compared to the September 2014. A stronger U.S. dollar, decreasing demand from China and weaker economies overseas continue to impact the export market.
Through September, the alliance handled nearly 2.8 million TEUs and is on pace to top last year’s 3.4 million TEUs.

Auto imports also continued to post gains – a trend that is expected to continue as next year’s models begin to arrive. Nearly 140,000 auto units crossed our docks through September, a nearly 4 percent increase.
Breakbulk cargo – items too big or bulky to fit in a container – remain stable, up half a percent to 196,923 metric tons year to date. Grain, log, petroleum and molasses exports continue to be impacted by the weaker export market.

View cargo details and container statistics.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance is a marine cargo operating partnership of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.