Sea-Intelligence (May 13th, 2026) – TP Realignment: NAWC 2026-Q1 Volume Analysis
- sarinratsiriratpir
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
In the latest issue of the Sea‑Intelligence Sunday Spotlight, we examined the North America West Coast (NAWC) container volumes for 2026‑Q1. While overall NAWC laden import volumes contracted by ‑3.9% Y/Y, this decline was highly localised to US‑based ports. The data revealed a northward migration of volumes that heavily favours the Canadian ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver. The Y/Y laden import growth rates are shown in Figure 1.
In 2026‑Q1, Vancouver experienced a robust 9.0% Y/Y increase in laden import volumes, surging to over 491,000 TEUs. This not only erased a slight Y/Y volume dip from the previous year but also established a new high for absolute laden import volumes for the port. Prince Rupert similarly enjoyed a 7.8% Y/Y growth, breaking past its 2024‑Q1 volumes, albeit still some way off the Q1 highs of 2019‑2022. Conversely, every major US West Coast port posted negative Y/Y growth figures, with the Northwest Seaport Alliance (ports of Seattle and Tacoma) absorbing the most severe blow with an ‑18.0% Y/Y drop.
These volume figures demonstrate a deliberate rerouting by shippers and carriers, likely driven by trade frictions created by the US trade war, favourable cross‑border rail logistics into the US Midwest, and proactive risk‑aversion strategies regarding US West Coast labour and congestion concerns.
Zooming out to the aggregate level, the 2026‑Q1 laden import volumes indicate a broader cooling trend in Transpacific demand, following the peaks of previous years. Overall, 2026‑Q1 NAWC laden import volumes have contracted both on an annual and quarterly basis. In 2025‑Q1, NAWC ports handled roughly 3.63 million laden import TEUs, but by 2026‑Q1, the aggregate laden import volume had dropped further to 3.49 million TEUs. This flatlining over the past three quarters is a direct consequence of the US trade war.
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All quotes can be attributed to: Alan Murphy, CEO, Sea-Intelligence.
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