10:15am | After 15 straight months of growth, the Port of Long Beach had a 2.5 percent dip in container volume in March compared with a year ago, according to a port report issued on Wednesday.
February and March are usually slower months for port traffic, as trade lags behind decreased manufacturing activity in Asia due to the Chinese New Year, according to the report.
Overall, the Port moved 412,235 20-foot equivalent container units in March compared with 422,774 TEUs during the same period in 2010.
Imports were down 7.5 percent to 191,211 TEUs, but exports were up by 1 percent to 131,761TEUs. Empty container moves were up 4.2 percent to 89,263 TEUs. Most empty containers are bound overseas for refilling, according to the report.
For more details on the cargo numbers, visit PoLB.com/stats.