Port of Seattle Exports Dive

Loaded container traffic at the Port of Seattle plunged 17.1 percent in January on a dramatic decline in exports form the Pacific Northwest port. Outbound loaded containers, measured in TEUs, dropped 25.7 percent as a sharp drop in exports that hit Seattle last year extended into 2009. Inbound TEUs fell 11.1 percent as saw 16,208 fewer overall loaded TEUs compared to the same month a year ago.

Retail Container Traffic Sinks

Retail container traffic at the nation's ports sank 14.6 percent in January, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released March 6 by the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight. Port Tracker forecasts the first half of 2009 will see volumes well below last year's levels. Even as ports gear up after the traditional low-point of February, the estimate for ! March is up only slightly.