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LOS ANGELES – The two biggest West Coast ports saw significant volume and import gains in September, with one of the two reporting its strongest September on record.
The Port of Los Angeles handled 748,440 TEUs for the month, a 5.4% improvement over the same month last year. Loaded imports landed at 392,608 TEUs, an increase of 14% compared with the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 120,635 TEUs, a substantial increase of 55%.
Volume for the month fell from August however by around 80,000 TEUs and is down for the year in total by 18.6%.
The Port of Long Beach achieved its busiest September on record, citing stronger consumer demand for holiday-related goods and the recent ratification of a labor pact between dockworkers and management.
Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 829,429 TEUs in September, up 11.8% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record set in September 2020 by 78,849 TEUs. September also marked the port’s first monthly year-over-year cargo increase in 14 months, as well as putting it above the Port of LA
Imports rose 19.3% to 408,926 TEUs, while exports declined 10.3% to 101,248 TEUs.
“Consumer confidence is on the rise and shippers can rely on the ‘Port of Choice’ now that we have a ratified contract in place with our waterfront workforce,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We look forward to a moderate rebound in cargo volume through the end of the year.”
The port has moved 5,822,666 TEUs during the first nine months of 2023, down 20.7% from the same period last year. Cargo volume this year has been on pace with pre-pandemic levels.
