The Port of New York and New Jersey moved a record number of containers last year, maintaining its growth momentum as shippers continue to divert services to the East and Gulf coasts.

The port saw double-digit increases in volumes year-on-year as it also marked a 26-month-long streak of monthly record cargo. 

"For the first time in its history, the Port of New York and New Jersey moved a record total of nearly 9.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) throughout the year," the port announced.

It added that in 2022, the seaport handled a total of 9,493,664 TEUs, an increase of 27% from pre-pandemic 2019 annual totals.

Nation's busiest port during the peak season

"Throughout the year, the port managed a 26-month-long streak of monthly record cargo high activity and became the nation's busiest container port during the peak months of the holiday shipping season," it added.

In December alone, the port noted that it handled 613,011 TEUs, which was an increase of 3.6% compared to December 2019.

Monthly cargo volume fell 15.2%, however, compared to November 2022, when the seaport handled 723,069 TEUs.

"In December 2022, as well as for the full year 2022, the New York-New Jersey seaport was the nation's second-busiest container port," the Port of New York and New Jersey said.

In October, the Port of New York and New Jersey announced it had become the busiest seaport of the United States for the second month in a row, edging out the Port of Los Angeles in California since August.

The Port of New York and New Jersey moved 35% more cargo in September over the pre-pandemic level seen in September 2019.

Meanwhile, despite the slowdown, the Port of Los Angeles still finished as the US' busiest container port for the 23rd consecutive year, handling 9,911,158 TEUs, down nearly 7.2% from 2021's 10,677,609.

For December alone, the port processed 728,871 containers, down 7.3% compared to the same period in 2021 when it processed 786,588 containers.