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Boxes Weaker at Portland by Bill DiBenedetto Journal of Commerce, January 21, 2009

The Port of Portland's December container volume fell by nearly 15 percent to 18,207 TEUs, one of the port's lowest monthly totals in 2008.

Import and export box traffic also weakened by double-digits in December, another illustration of the tough times for West Coast ports as trans-Pacific trade continues its decline.

The Columbia River port for the year saw box volume decrease 6.4 percent to 245,459 TEUs. Outbound containers slipped 16.5 percent in December, and by 8.5 percent to 137,843 TEUs for the year.

Import containers dipped 12.6 percent for the month, and by 3.5 percent to 107,616 TEUs in 2008.

Among other cargo categories, mineral bulk volume grew 1.1 percent to 5.5 million tons; grain increased by 0.1 percent to 4.41 million tons; breakbulk declined 13.2 percent to 977,233 TEUs, including zero growth in December, and autos fell 9.2 percent to 407,803 units.

Total vessel calls in 2008 shrank 6.8 percent to 766.