THE New York and New Jersey handled a record 558,991 TEU in May, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.1 per cent and beating the previous best month of March 2015 when 559,264 TEU passed through the port complex.

The throughput gains were attributed by port authorities to primarily the rerouting of containerised US west coast cargo and an improving national economy, while other east coast ports, including Savannah and Charleston also achieved higher volumes in May, reported American Shipper.