Total volume was back on the rise in May at the Port of New York and New Jersey, followed by strong gains for rail and imports. Total volume for May reached 791,880 TEUs (435,226 containers), a 2.2% increase from the 774,698 TEUs (425,876 containers) recorded in May 2025. This number brings our year-through-May total to 3,657,737 TEUs (2,003,971 containers). 

By The Numbers

Import loads (TEUs) rose 4.9% in May compared to the previous year, totaling 400,995 TEUs (221,306 containers) and 382,217 TEUs (210,991 containers). From January through May, the Port of New York and New Jersey imported loads reached 1,840,605 TEUs (1,012,558 containers), a 2.4% decrease from the 1,886,285 TEUs (1,042,358 containers) imported in the same period of 2025. 

Export loads (TEUs) decreased 5.9% in May compared to May 2025. A total of 121,915 TEUs (65,217 containers) moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey in May 2026 from 129,565 TEUs (69,550 containers) in May 2025. From January through May, the Port exported loads reached 597,353 TEUs (318,953 containers), a 0.8% increase from the 592,342 TEUs (317,042 containers) recorded in the same period of the previous year. 

Export empties increased 2.1% in May, totaling 266,614 TEUs versus 261,200 TEUs in May 2025. The Port of New York and New Jersey moved 1,211,364 export empties (TEUs) from January through May, a decrease of 2.6% compared to the 1,243,572 TEUs recorded in the same period of 2025. Import empties were up 13.5% from January through May compared with the previous year.

May’s rail volume decreased 8.3% from the previous year, totaling 58,821 containers. Rail volume from January through May remained unchanged compared with the same period in 2025.

A total of 36,165 autos moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey in May, an increase of 5.0% from the previous year. Auto volume from January through May was 5.2% less than in the same period of 2025.

View monthly cargo volume here.