Photo courtesy of Port of Long Beach.
The Port of Long Beach set an all-time record for its best month this July when cargo volume surged, surpassing a previous record set in August 2015 for the number of containers moved across its docks, officials announced today.
Port officials said a total volume of 720,312 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) were transported in and out of the harbor in July, resulting in increased cargo traffic for five consecutive months in Long Beach, and in six of the first seven months of 2017. Compared to 2016, volume is up 6.4 percent for the calendar year.
“Given the unprecedented change in the industry, we are pleased to see shippers choosing Long Beach,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum in a statement. “We thank our industry partners for having confidence in this Port, and we pledge to continue to provide the best service and the best facilities.”
Container business in Long Beach was overall 13.1 percent higher in July compared to the same month last year. Imports increased 16.3 percent to 378,820 TEUs—also setting a record in the Port’s 106-year history—as retailers anticipate consumer demand for goods in the coming months, according to a release from the port. Exports fell 11.7 percent to 126,098 containers.
In addition, the recent wave of imports helped push empty containers 27.7 percent higher, to 215,394 TEUs. Empty containers are repositioned overseas, according to officials.
“These numbers are great for Long Beach and good news for the economy,” stated Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “They are also indicators of the kind of service we provide to our customers as they seek the best and most efficient pathways to get their goods to U.S. markets.”