Cargo Numbers Surge on Seattle's Waterfront

More Good News: Hot August Continues Upward Trend in Container Cargo

The Port of Seattle posted another strong month of container cargo handling on Seattle's waterfront in August, with a 14 percent increase over the August 1999 numbers.

The August 2000 figures, released this week, show that 133,440 TEUs (standard 20-foot containers) were handled on the Port's container terminals, well ahead of the August 1999 total of 117,167 TEUs. For the year through August, 985,729 TEUs passed over Seattle's docks.

The increase has been fueled by a strong surge in two-way trade with Asian nations. Full import TEUs from Asia during August were up 17 percent over 1999, and full export TEUs were up 13 percent over last year.

"This is promising news for our region -- an area with stronger ties to the world economy than any other region in the United States," said Steve Sewell, managing director of the Port's Marine Division. "This peak season shipping surge brings Seattle's growth in Asian cargo numbers in line with volumes that other West Coast ports are experiencing."

Sewell said some of the increase can be attributed to additional container cargo destined for the southeastern United States being diverted from southern California ports to Seattle.

"Shippers are finding that we are able to move cargo through the Port of Seattle much more quickly and efficiently than the overcrowded ports in southern California can," he said.