NWSA finishes year with full volumes trending up in Q4

After a strong start to the year, tariff-driven volatility resulted in overall volumes slightly down. Tariffs and elevated retail inventories weighed on full-year total container volume (international and domestic), finishing at 3,156,598 TEUs. Volumes were down 5.5%, with full imports and exports declining 10.3% and 4.9% respectively.

UWL and Emirates Shipping Line announced that the Sun Chief Express (SCX) service will transition from fortnightly to weekly sailings in June, reflecting the growing demand for vessel capacity from Vietnam and Southeast Asia. With an 18-day transit from Ho Chi Minh City and 15-day transit from Shekou, China, to Seattle the SCX offers fast and reliable service.

Other cargo stats:

Full-year breakbulk volumes, 327,574 metric tons, decreased 18.7% as high interest rates and tariffs impacted this segment.

Full-year auto volumes, 274,001 units, were down 18.9% due to slow auto sales nationwide due to high interest rates and tariffs.

The NWSA continues to work on initiatives that increase capacity and improve efficiency.

Inland Rail Hub Initiative

NWSA Managing Members approved an Interlocal Agreement between the alliance and Port of Benton, Port of Pasco, and Port of Walla Walla to develop an Inland Logistics Hub in the Tri-Cities region of Southeastern Washington. The partnership establishes a framework for joint efforts to enhance international trade, expand cargo movement, and strengthen Washington state’s supply chain infrastructure. 

October marked the five-year anniversary of the Minot Intermodal Facility. In partnership with Rail Modal Group, the Minot Area Chamber Economic Development Corporation, and the BNSF Railway, the facility was the first inland rail hub with service to NWSA. 

The NWSA launched a strategic initiative to support the establishment and growth of new inland rail hubs to drive agricultural exports through our gateway. Current inland rail locations serving the NWSA include Minot, North Dakota; Pocatello, Idaho; and Wallula, Washington.

First-in-Class Service

The NWSA earned the distinction of being an Inbound Logistics Green 75 Supply Chain Partner for the ninth consecutive year. The recognition highlights NWSA’s commitment to protecting the environment through proactive and collaborative partnerships with supply chain stakeholders and communities across the Puget Sound.

The NWSA also finished first in the West Coast Ports category in Logistics Management’s Quest for Quality Awards for the third year in a row and was ranked highest in three of five categories: Value (third year in a row), Intermodal Network (second year in a row), and Equipment & Operations. The NWSA was among twenty ports to receive the distinction this year.

Infrastructure Development

The Puyallup Tribe and the NWSA announced a partnership to expand the region’s shipping capacity through construction of a new berth on the East Blair Waterway. The move expands current berth capacity, positioning the Seattle/Tacoma gateway to gain market share and increase economic activity across the region.

The shore power project at Husky Terminal was completed, making it the second international cargo terminal in Washington state to be shore power capable, following the completion of Terminal 5’s system in 2023. This is a significant step toward the NWSA’s ambitious goal of providing shore power at all international terminals by 2030. The next terminals for shore power upgrades will be Terminal 18 in Seattle and Washington United Terminal in Tacoma. TOTE, a domestic terminal in Tacoma, has been shore power capable since 2010.