Canadian ports took a larger share of North America West Coast container imports in 2026-Q1 as total NAWC laden import volumes fell 3.9% year on year to 3.49m TEU, according to Sea-Intelligence.
Vancouver increased laden import volumes by 9.0% year on year to more than 491,000 TEU, setting a new first-quarter high.
Prince Rupert rose 7.8%, moving above its 2024-Q1 level but remaining below the Q1 highs recorded from 2019 to 2022. The shift contrasted with declines at every major US West Coast port.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance, covering Seattle and Tacoma, recorded the sharpest fall, with laden imports down 18.0%.
Sea-Intelligence linked the northward shift to trade frictions, cross-border rail options into the US Midwest and risk management around US West Coast labour and congestion exposure.
NAWC ports handled about 3.63m laden import TEU in 2025-Q1, compared with 3.49m TEU in 2026-Q1. The figures also show volumes contracting both year on year and quarter on quarter, with demand flat over the past three quarters.
Sea-Intelligence is a Denmark-based provider of container shipping market analysis and advisory services.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is the Canadian federal port authority responsible for managing the Port of Vancouver.
The Prince Rupert Port Authority is the Canadian federal port authority responsible for the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance is a marine cargo operating partnership formed by the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.
