The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port of NY/NJ) said it recorded the "highest amount of cargo this year" and became the country's second-busiest during October.

The major US East Coast port noted that it continued to outpace its 2019 activity.

"The Port of New York and New Jersey saw its busiest month of the year during October 2023 and was the nation's second-busiest seaport for the month," the report said.

The seaport moved 742,571 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) through the month.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey noted that the latest figure represented an 11.4% increase from pre-pandemic October 2019 and an increase of 12.4% from September 2023.

"The elevated cargo activity resulted from retailers pushing to receive the remainder of products destined for store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season," the port said.

The seaport continued to outpace its pre-pandemic 2019 volume.

For the year through October, the seaport moved approximately 6.5 million TEUs. That cargo activity increased 3.9% over volumes during the same period in 2019.