PANYNJ logs double-digit rail cargo gain for May

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) moved 66,842 containers through the port via rail in May, a 22.3% increase from the previous year. Rail volume from January through May was 10.2% greater than the same period a year ago, according to the authority's news blog, Breaking Waves.

PANYNJ is served by on-dock Express Rail, which connects to both CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, port officials said. 

Meanwhile, a total of 34,437 autos moved through PANYNJ in May, a 1.3% increase over May 2024. However, from January through May, auto volume was 10.2% lower than in the same period of 2024. 

Imports declined 7.6% in May over last year, reaching 382,217 TEUs. For January through May, imports increased 5.3% over 2024 for a total of 1,886,285 TEUs in 2025, PANYNJ officials said. PANYNJ handled 129,565 TEUs of exports in May, up 3.8% from exports in May 2024. Export loads between January and May reached 592,342 TEUs, a 3.8% increase, over the same period in 2024.

The port handled 774,698 TEUs in May, demonstrating resilience through its diversified supply lines despite uncertainty created by President Donald Trump's tariffs, [port officials said. From January through May, the port handled 3,729,611 TEUs, an increase of 6.5% over the same period in 2024.

However, May's volume alone had a 2% decline from the 790,758 TEUs recorded in May 2024, when the port was handling additional cargo volume following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent closure of the Port of Baltimore.