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The Port of Tacoma, Wash., was impacted by the global recession last year, but not to the extent noted at other major West Coast ports. The Tacoma facility’s containerized cargo volume decreased 3.3 percent to 1.86 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared with 2007 volume. Other West Coast ports registered an average cargo decline of 8.8 percent.

"By focusing on the business needs of our customers, shippers and business partners, and aligning the port’s strengths, we captured a larger container market share even as world cargo volumes declined," said John Wolfe, deputy executive director of the Tacoma port, in a prepared statement.

In 2008, the port’s total tonnage increased 3.6 percent to 20.3 million short tons and grain volume rose 13.6 percent to 6.8 million short tons, but intermodal lifts dropped 15.2 percent to 407,993, breakbulk cargo volume fell 4.1 percent to 118,523 short tons and automotive volume declined 9.1 percent to 159,079 units vs. 2007 totals. In addition, the port generated $99.1 million in operating revenue, up 1.3 percent.

From 2002 through 2006, the port set successive container cargo records and volumes grew from 1.5 million TEUs to 2.1 million TEUs. But in 2007, container volume fell to 1.92 million TEUs.