NWSA container volume falls 13.9% in January

The Northwest Seaport Alliance reported container volume of 228,166 TEUs in January 2026. The figure dropped 13.9% compared to January 2025.

The decline followed last year’s cargo frontloading ahead of expected tariffs. Full imports decreased 16%. Full exports remained flat year-over-year but increased 10.2% compared to January 2022. Equipment and capacity shortages had constrained exports in 2022.

Breakbulk volumes jumped 42.2% to 34,134 metric tons. The increase resulted from additional vessel calls due to scheduling timing.

Auto volumes declined 2.5% to 19,426 units from 19,925 units in January 2025.

Ocean carriers announced their 2026 Transpacific deployments for the gateway. The Ocean Alliance will maintain four strings serving NWSA. The alliance includes CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Evergreen, and OOCL.

The CPNW service will return to Seattle as first port of call. The COSCO CPV service will add a Vietnam call. The move expands capacity for that market.

The Premier Alliance will maintain three services. The alliance consists of HMM, ONE, and Yang Ming. The FP2 service will switch to Tacoma as first port of call. The change should improve schedule reliability. The PN3 service will replace FP2 for westbound routing to Tokyo and Kobe.

The ESL/UWL SCX service will increase frequency in June. The service connects Ho Chi Minh City and Shekou. It will switch from fortnightly to weekly sailings. The change will increase gateway capacity.

The Gemini Cooperation, MSC, SM Line, and Swire Shipping will maintain existing services. Gemini Cooperation includes Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk.

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