Trade data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today shows that the value of exports from Washington increased by 15.0 percent in July, after falling 39.1 percent from February to June. Meanwhile, the value of imports to Washington increased by 35.4 percent from May to July, after falling 11.0 percent from February to May. But, as shown in the charts below, export and import values are still below their 2019 levels. (Today’s preliminary economic forecast from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council notes that exports from Washington have decreased for the last seven quarters.)

Another source of trade volume data is the Northwest Seaport Alliance (the marine cargo partnership of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma). According to the NWSA, 2020 container volumes through July are down 18.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019.