Issue link: https://pma.uberflip.com/i/1533421
30 2024 ANNUAL REPORT Pacific Northwest Significant investments in infrastructure are enabling ports in the Pacific Northwest to handle larger cargo ships while also improving cargo-handling efficiency. It was another strong year for the Port of Seattle's cruise industry. In 2024, auto imports increased significantly following the expansion of existing service and new business at the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway. R E G I O N A L R E P O R T Hundreds of imported cars at the Port of Seattle's Terminal 46. Tacoma Cargo Volume Returns to 2019 Levels Cargo volume at the Port of Tacoma rose 9% in 2024 due to increases in containerized cargo, returning to levels not seen since 2019. The number of international container ship calls also rose by 41 over 2023 – reaching the highest level since 2020. In addition, Tacoma continued to process autos well above its historical average, managing 4.4 million tons in 2024. Overall, container volume handled by the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which manages cargo facilities in Seattle and Tacoma, increased by nearly 15% over the previous year. Preventing the loss of discretionary cargo to other ports continues to be a focus for the NWSA, as infrastructure and rail investments increase the region's cargo-handling capabilities and improve supply chain connectivity. Autos Begin Rolling off at Seattle's Terminal 46 A new auto and breakbulk cargo service began at the Port of Seattle's Terminal 46 in March with the arrival of the first automobile vessel to call at the terminal in more than two decades. Terminal 46, which has over 42 acres of capacity for shippers, has provided space for a number of cargo uses in the past, including most recently as a near-dock storage facility to help meet the pandemic surge in containerized cargo. The added traffic at Terminal 46 reflects the continued growth in auto imports at the Northwest Seaport Alliance (See 2022 and 2023 PMA Annual Reports). Pacific Terminal Services Company was the stevedore for the auto vessels that called at Terminal 46 throughout the year.