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Tacoma's 2012 Container Volumes Grew 16%, Breakbulk by 68%Print this Article | Send to Colleague Double-digit gains for both imports and exports boosted container volumes at the Port of Tacoma by 16 percent in 2012 to 1.7 million TEUs in 2012, the most since 2008.
Containerized imports jumped by more than 27 percent, bolstered by strong demand for auto parts, furniture, toys and sporting goods, while exports were up nearly 22 percent, thanks to agricultural products and bulk commodities, such as scrap paper.
According to the port, the upswing reflects the addition of the Grand Alliance and its associated carriers in July, as well as significantly stronger volumes from established customers. The new Grand Alliance services helped increase container vessel calls by 10 percent.
December container volumes jumped 45 percent from a year ago, largely because of cargo diverted from Southern California ports during the eight-day labor strike in late November and early December.
Breakbulk cargo volumes rose for the second year in a row, up 68 percent from 2011, thanks to strong demand overseas for construction and agricultural equipment, and additional calls by larger ro/ro vessels.
Additional 2012 cargo results from Tacoma:
For 2013, the port forecasts 14 percent growth in container volumes, a 7 percent increase in auto imports, and moderate gains for grain and log exports.
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