Corrected April 23 with updated data.

Container volumes through the Port of Tacoma bounced back in March, posting an 8.5 percent gain over the same month last year.

The increase in international volumes was expected as production ramped up in China following factory closures during the Lunar New Year holiday in early February and empty containers were sent back to Asia ahead of the peak shipping season that traditionally begins in the summer.

A strike by container truck drivers at Canada’s Port Metro Vancouver last month also diverted some cargo to Tacoma.

Through the first quarter of the year, Tacoma container volumes remained flat, down 0.3 percent year to date to 467,789 TEUs. Full containerized exports improved 4 percent to 140,290 TEUs, and imports grew nearly 3 percent to 177,047 TEUs.

Breakbulk cargo volumes and auto imports continued to perform well year to date, up 25 percent and 14 percent respectively in March. Grain exports appear to be rebounding, posting a 14 percent gain year to date.

Find the March cargo reports in the sidebar under "Downloads."

Download Cargo statistics - March 2014 (14.5 KB), Download Container volumes - March 2014 (23.55 KB)