The Port of New York and New Jersey reported its February cargo volumes as the second-highest on record. The increase is likely due to frontloading activity in anticipation of U.S. tariffs targeting key trading partners, particularly China.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said that due to its performance in February, the port was also the country's second-busiest cargo gateway, moving 20% more total TEUs than in February 2019, before the pandemic.

"The Port of New York and New Jersey reinforced its position as one of the nation's premier cargo gateways, finishing February 2025 as the second-busiest U.S. port for loaded TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units)," it said in the announcement.

The port handled a robust 464,253 loaded import and export TEUs during the month, a 7% jump over February 2024.

"Overall, February 2025 marked the port's second-busiest February ever, behind only the pandemic cargo surge in 2022," said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The port handled 699,240 total TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in February 2025.