As illustrated in Figure 1, breaking down by ports reveals a sharp divide: Gulf and Mid-Atlantic ports are growing or declining marginally, while South Atlantic and Florida ports are seeing double-digit drops. The Port of Houston recorded the largest Y/Y growth, increasing total volume by 1.8% Y/Y, supported by a 4.3% increase in laden imports. The region’s largest port, New York/New Jersey, recorded a limited total volume decline of ‑1.1% by leveraging a strong 3.9% expansion in laden exports to offset a ‑1.6% drop in laden imports.
Jacksonville’s total volume fell by ‑4.9%, while Charleston experienced a steep ‑11.9% Y/Y decline in total throughput, heavily driven by a ‑11.3% Y/Y drop in laden imports. The most severe downturn on the East Coast was recorded at Port Everglades, where total container volume plunged by ‑12.3% and laden imports collapsed by ‑21.9% Y/Y.
