The number of containers passing through the Port of Seattle dropped again in September as traffic continued shifting to California and to other Cascadia ports.
Last month Seattle traffic dropped 7.6 percent, the seventh monthly drop so far this year. Port officials blame the decline on the draw of the large southern California market and say that cruise ships and other business will help Seattle weather the downturn.
The numbers underscore the need for investment in efficient infrastructure in order to hold onto trade-related business. Vancouver's port has continued to grow by investing in better on-shore transportation links, and Tacoma is poised to become the largest Puget Sound port this year. Seattle reportedly has the capacity to double its traffic to 4 million 20-foot containers a year by 2013, and Tacoma -- which has more space -- says it will be able to handle 6 million by 2025.