The momentum of record-breaking container volume continued in the new year, setting an all-time high in January. Total volume for January 2019 rose by 6.3 percent, posting 622,531 TEUs (355,374 lifts) versus 585,864 TEUs (335,282 lifts) in January of 2018. This increase represents the fifth highest monthly volume ever recorded at the Port of New York and New Jersey.

Import loads (TEUs) also rose, showing a 5.9 percent increase in January 2019 compared to 2018, although export loads (TEUs) decreased by 0.9 percent in January 2019 when compared to the previous year. Export empties also showed large gains in January, increasing by 12.5 percent, totaling 182,337 TEUs versus 162,070 TEUs in January 2018. Import empties in January 2019, were down by 46.5 percent compared to the previous year.

January 2019 versus January 2018:

• Import loads totaled 327,345 TEUs (186,590 lifts) versus 309,003 TEUs (177,160 lifts).
• Export loads totaled 111,833 TEUs (61,855 lifts) versus 112,893 TEUs (62,172 lifts).
• Export empties totaled 182,337 TEUs compared to 162,070 TEUs.
• Import empties totaled 1,016 TEUs compared to 1,898.

Rail volume in January of 2019 increased by 8.8 percent, totaling 54,705 containers versus 50,303 the previous year. This gain represents the 11th consecutive month of rail volume above 50,000 containers.

In January, 44,114 autos moved through the Port of New York and New Jersey, representing a decrease of 12.8 percent when compared to January 2018. Auto volume for January 2018 was 50,596.