SoCal Ports Post Double Digit Cargo Growth In January

The Southern California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles roared into 2011, posting double-digit cargo volume increases in January. Though there is some speculation that the early-February Chinese New Year shutdown in Asia may have spurred early cargo shipments in January and lower monthly increases are in the future, both ports have remained on a solid growth track for the past 12 months. Following the global economic meltdown that began in 2008, both ports saw cargo volumes slide until hitting bottom in February 2009 – only to swing into positive growth again in late 2009.

The Port of Long Beach, despite losing a major container terminal tenant at the end of 2010, posted a strong 10.8 percent increase in total container volume for the month compared to January 2010. The port ended the month with a total of 474,960 TEUs handled, its best January since 2008. California United Terminals, which moved in late December 2010 to the Port of Los Angeles, represented about 10 percent of Long Beach's total annual cargo volume.

Imports and exports were both up, with Long Beach port officials reporting an 11.3 percent increase in loaded inbound containers and a 12.7 percent increase in loaded outbound containers for the month, both compared to January 2010. The port ended the month with 242,445 loaded inbound TEUs and 127,546 loaded outbound TEUs. Empty containers made up the remainder of the monthly total.

The Port of Los Angeles, while posting weaker percentage growth than Long Beach, managed to end the month with more total TEUs handled than its neighboring competitor. It was the second best January on record for the Los Angeles, falling just 31,000 TEUs short only the record-holding January in 2007.

Port officials reported handled a total of 660,518 TEUs last month, a 15.3 percent increase over the year ago period.

The port also saw strong growth in imports and exports, with officials reporting a 14.3 percent increase in loaded inbound containers and a 12.6 percent increase in loaded outbound containers for the month. Los Angeles handled 338,606 loaded inbound TEUs in January and 159,051 loaded outbound TEUs. Empties made up the remainder of the port’s monthly total.