In October, the Port of New York and New Jersey recorded its highest total monthly volume of 2023, moving 742,571 TEUs (409,680 containers). The seaport was the nation’s second busiest through the month as retailers pushed to receive the remainder of products destined for store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season. The total monthly volume represents a 6.3 percent decrease compared to the 792,548 TEUs (438,007 containers) recorded in October 2022. The January through October total volume is 6,531,687 TEUs (3,620,986 containers). 

Imports in October were down slightly (0.2 percent) compared to the previous year, totaling 381,756 TEUs (210,684 containers) and 382,453 TEUs (212,593 containers). So far this year, imported loads at the Port of New York and New Jersey have reached 3,339,345 TEUs (1,852,712 containers), compared to 4,151,182 TEUs (2,298,943 containers) in the same period in 2022, a 19.6 percent decrease.

Exports decreased by 1.2 percent in October compared to the previous year, totaling 111,024 TEUs (59,996 containers) and 112,325 TEUs (61,107 containers). From January through October, the Port of New York and New Jersey exported 1,068,955 TEUs (577,862 containers) versus 1,086,093 TEUs (588,398 containers) in the same period in 2022, a 1.6 percent decrease.

Export empties decreased by 16.4 percent in October, totaling 247,419 TEUs and 295,922 TEUs in October 2022. Export empties totaled 2,105,659 TEUs from January through October versus 2,904,079 TEUs in the same period of 2022, a decrease of 27.5 percent. Import empties rose 9.2 percent from January through October compared to the same period in 2022.

A total of 56,819 containers moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey by rail in October. This number represents a decrease of 11.4 percent from the previous year’s October figure. Rail volume from January through October 2023 was 12.9 percent less than in the same period in 2022. Autos moving through the Port of New York and New Jersey totaled 29,792 in October, a decrease of 6.9 percent compared to October 2022. Auto volume from January through October 2023 was 11.1 percent less than in the same period in 2022.

View monthly cargo volume here.