CONTAINER volumes through the Port of Tacoma improved 1.3 per cent year to date in June, the port authority reported.

June also saw a strong uplift in container volume of 10 per cent with overall container volume up for first six months.

Driven by imports, inbound boxes increased 13.4 per cent year to date, with exports improving two per cent. Overall, 87,610 laden international TEU moved through the port in June.

Domestic container traffic to Alaska and Hawaii is down nearly four per cent, but volumes continue to build as we move into summer. For the second month in a row, June marked the highest monthly domestic volume this year with 44,374 TEU crossing the docks.

Breakbulk volumes, auto exports and intermodal lifts continue to outpace last year's numbers. Demand for agricultural and industrial equipment overseas continues to fuel breakbulk's 95 per cent year to date gain. Autos improved 21 per cent and intermodal lifts were up 16 per cent year to date.