PANYNJ logs third busiest cargo year, PATH ridership growth in 2024

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) reported that 2024 was its third-busiest cargo movement year, behind only pandemic-era 2021 and 2022. PANYNJ’s commuter railroad, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH), also registered strong year-over year growth.

The port handled 8.7 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, an 11% increase year over year despite concerns about labor disruptions impacting traffic, PANYNJ officials said in a press release. The port ended the year as the busiest cargo gateway on the East Coast and among the top three busiest in the United States regarding total TEUs and loaded TEUs, according to the PANYNJ.

November 2024's total of 718,826 TEUs was up 12% from November 2023, while December’s total of 688,180 TEUs was a 9% year-over-year increase. It was the port’s second busiest December ever, behind December 2021, port authority officials said.

PATH transported 57.2 million passengers in 2024, a 13% increase from 2023’s total and 70% of pre-pandemic 2019 numbers. Weekend ridership was especially high. Saturday and Sunday ridership was 96% and 99%, respectively, of pre-pandemic levels. Average weekday ridership in 2024 was 186,120, up 13% from 2023 and 65% of 2019 levels.

In November 2024, 4.8 million passengers boarded PATH trains, 11% more than November 2023 and 74% of November 2019. In December, 4.8 million passengers rode PATH, up 15% from December 2023 and 74% of December 2019’s ridership.