Robust import volumes pushed March container volumes at the ports of Tacoma and Seattle up 21 percent over March 2014.
The ports handled 361,951 20-foot equivalent containers (TEUs) last month, making March the busiest month since September 2014.
The ports saw additional volumes as they cleared the backlog that built up during prolonged contract negotiations between the West coast labor union and employers. A tentative agreement was reached at the end of February.
The ports expect volumes to remain higher than normal in the coming months as vessels return to normal service schedules and manufacturers in Asia work to clear excess inventory.
Through the first three months of the year, container volumes grew 3 percent to 822,969 TEUs.
In other cargo news, log exports fell 41 percent year to date due to a slowing Chinese economy, and breakbulk cargo grew 10 percent on the strength of farm equipment exports.
Find the March 2015 cargo reports in the sidebar under "Downloads."
