The Port of New York and Jersey (Port of NY/NJ) recorded its busiest July ever, surpassing 800,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) for the period and becoming the US' second busiest gateway for loaded cargo so far this year.

The port handled 806,015 TEUs throughout the month. It was the seventh-busiest month in the port's history and the first time the port handled more than 800,000 TEUs within a month since September 2022.

"July 2024 marked the busiest July of all time at the Port of New York and New Jersey," the Port of New York and New Jersey said.

"Cargo activity has grown as retailers prepare for back-to-school and holiday shopping," it added.

July 2024's total was an 11% increase over July 2023 and a 4% increase over July 2022, the month's previous high-water mark.

Compared to June 2024's performance, the port said July numbers were up 14%.

The port has handled 5,016,672 TEUs through the first seven months of the year. This was a 12% increase from the same period in 2023 and a 16% jump from the first seven months of 2019.

"The port continued its status as the second busiest in the nation for loaded TEUs, handling 3,376,010 loaded imports and exports from January through July," the port said.