Activity at the Port of New York and New Jersey showed resilience in consumer demand and the global supply chain as cargo volume set a new all-time monthly record in March. Volume increased by 35 percent in March 2021 compared to March 2019, breaking the monthly record set in October of 2020.
Compared to 2020, March volume rose by even greater gains. The Port moved 789,776 TEUs (437,479 lifts) in March 2021 versus 560,830 TEUs (318,521 lifts) in March 2020, an increase of 40.8 percent. These numbers bring our year through March total to 2,136,180 TEUs (1,185,514 lifts).
Imports totaled 393,159 TEUs (218,189 lifts) in March compared to 271,511 TEUs (154,926 lifts) in March 2020, a 44.8 percent increase. From January through March 2021, imports at the Port of New York and New Jersey reached 1,098,727 TEUs (610,954 lifts) versus 894,599 TEUs (505,949 lifts) in the same period of 2020, a 22.8 percent increase.
Exports decreased by 7.4 percent in March 2021 compared to March 2020, totaling 126,699 TEUs (68,934 lifts) versus 136,780 TEUs (75,269 lifts). From January through March 2021, exports at the Port reached 330,135 TEUs (180,226 lifts), a 10.5 percent decrease from the 369,069 TEUs (203,624 lifts) posted during the same period of 2020.
Export empties at the Port of New York and New Jersey increased by 77.5 percent in March, totaling 267,542 TEUs. This reflects the need to reposition empty containers around the globe to provide the equipment necessary to support the strong cargo demand. Export empties in March 2020 totaled 150,702 TEUs. From January through March 2021, export empties accounted for 701,007 TEUs compared to 488,158 TEUs in the same period of 2020, increasing by 43.6 percent.
Rail and auto volumes also posted positive gains in March. Rail volume increased by 7.8 percent from the previous year’s March figure, totaling 64,431 containers for March 2021. From January through March 2021, rail volume was 3.4 percent greater than in the same period of 2020.
Autos moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey totaled 46,686 in March, an increase of 10.7 percent when compared to March 2020. Auto volume for January through March 2021 was 11.5 percent greater than in the same period of the previous year.
Source: Port of New York and New Jersey
