June 3, 2025
Cargo operations in our region are managed by The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), which jointly operates the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma. On Mondays, the NWSA publishes a weekly update of its volumes and metrics for both ports.
The updates below include both the North Harbor (Seattle) and South Harbor (Tacoma) for the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA).
Weekly Updates
Week of June 6
Source: Northwest Seaport Alliance
For the week ending 5/23 and third week in a row volumes were down compared to last year. International imports and truck transactions were up slightly compared to the prior week, 6.8% and 5% respectively. Total vessel lifts, including empties and exports, were down 25.5% compared to the average for the same month last year, and imports were down 15.6% for the same period. It is likely that the discrepancy between those two numbers could be related to a drop in exports.
We are tracking market reports of a surge in volume leaving Asia for the West Coast, and expect to see volume increases starting next week. The NWSA and our supply chain partners are fully prepared to handle the expected additional volume.
- Follow the detailed weekly update on the Northwest Seaport Alliance website
- Reference a full vessel schedule and four week lookahead
Weekly Vessel Arrival Snapshot
Week ending May 30
Source: Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
| CATEGORY | LAST WEEK | THIS WEEK | % CHANGE |
| Bulk | 5 | 5 | 0% |
| Container | 12 | 11 | -8% |
| General | 3 | 1 | -67% |
| Other | 1 | 3 | 200% |
| Passenger | 11 | 12 | 9% |
| Ro/Ro | 2 | 3 | 50% |
| Tanker | 9 | 12 | 0% |
| Tug/ATB | 0 | 2 | - |
| Vehicles | 11 | 4 | -64% |
| 54 | 53 | -2% |
Weekly Vessel Calls
Source: Northwest Seaport Alliance
| Week Ending | Voyages | Blank Sailings+ |
| June 6 | 12 | 1 |
| May 30 | 13 | 2 |
| May 23 | 13 | 1 |
| May 16 | 12 | 2 |
| May 9 | 12 | 1 |
| April 25 | 13 | 2 |
+ A "void sailing," also known as a "blank sailing," refers to a scheduled cargo ship service that skips a port or region it was supposed to visit.
Vessels: Year over Year Change
Source: Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
May 1-23
Monthly comparisons to same time last year for Seattle and Tacoma
| TYPE | 2024 | 2025 |
| Bulk | 9 | 9 |
| Container | 18 | 20 |
| General | 3 | 2 |
| Other | 2 | 0 |
| Passenger | 26 | 29 |
| Tanker | 0 | 2 |
| Tug/ATB | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicles | 1 | 0 |
- For vessels coming into Seattle, see the Ship Sightings page
2025 International Container Volumes (imports and exports)
Source: Northwest Seaport Alliance
- Bold = highest
- Italics = lowest
| Month | Imports (in TEUs) | Exports (in TEUs) |
| December | ||
| November | ||
| October | ||
| Q4 2025 | ||
| September | ||
| August | ||
| July | ||
| Q3 2025 | ||
| June | ||
| May | ||
| April | 109,481 | 103,903 |
| Q2 2025 | ||
| March | 115,813 | 126,993 |
| February | 108,883 | 97,788 |
| January | 116,916 | 99,392 |
| Q1 2025 | Up 23.9% with higher empty sailings at -9.8% |
Up 24.5% |
- For more detailed information, check the Northwest Seaport Alliance website.
10-Year Historical Context
Source: Northwest Seaport Alliance
Below, you’ll find historical context for the last ten years in international container volumes (imports + exports + empty) by TEUs.
What’s a TEU?: The TEU stands for 20-foot equivalent unit, a standard that can be used to measure a ship’s cargo capacity. One TEU is 20 feet long and 8 feet tall.
- Bold = highest
- Italics = lowest
| Year | Imports | Exports | Empty |
| 2024 | 1,289,198 | 636,507 | 684,540 |
| 2023 | 1,078,005 | 588,744 | 570,018 |
| 2022 COVID-19 | 1,249,746 | 561,244 | 838,552 |
| 2021 COVID-19 | 1,464,662 | 691,446 | 836,012 |
| 2020 COVID-19 | 1,253,818 | 790,620 | 591,198 |
| 2019 | 1,369,251 | 913,332 | 775,763 |
| 2018 | 1,452,623 | 953,495 | 705,114 |
| 2017 | 1,380,785 | 964,067 | 650,459 |
| 2016 | 1,391,590 | 984,274 | 482,951 |
| 2015 | 1,308,214 | 871,522 | 591,072 |
- See the NWSA Container Volume History (Excel Spreadsheet)
