Supply Chain Research

Container handling through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma climbed 13% on a year earlier in February, the first rise in six months. That was due to the later lunar new year vs. 2016 – the three month average fell 6%. The ports’ exposure to China, which accounted for 45% of inbound traffic in the past 12 months, will be a problem as President Trump’s new section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods kicks in. The leading products from China in the technology and machinery sectors include heating systems (9% of traffic in the past year) and gas pumps/compressors (6%).