The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) — which represents combined ports of Seattle and Tacoma — recorded a decline in its cargo volumes in June still due to disruptions caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The fourth-largest container gateway in North America, said it handled 287,036 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in June 2020, a 16.4% decrease compared to June 2019. Full imports declined 15.1%, while full exports decreased 8%.

For the first half of 2020, overall container volumes declined 18.3% compared to 2019. The NWSA handled a total of 1,564,263 TEUs year to date. Full imports declined 18.3%, while full exports decreased 9.3%.

"The economic fallout from the global pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains across the country and around the world," NWSA said in a statement.

It noted that NWSA gateway experienced a total of 55 blank sailings through June, driven by COVID-19 and the lingering trade dispute with China.

However, it said the NWSA remains committed to handling future growth.

A year after breaking ground, the Terminal 5 Modernization Project completed phase one of pile driving. The pipe piles were installed to reinforce the upland portion of the wharf and support the new super-post-Panamax cranes arriving next year.

Our total year-to-date domestic container volumes dipped 6.9%. Alaska and Hawaii volumes declined 7.5% and 3.8%, respectively.

NWSA said breakbulk cargo volumes were down 1.1% year over year to 139,662 metric tons, while auto volumes year to date were 66,934 units, down 30.5% year over year.