By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Long Beach recently posted its busiest October in history moving 669,218 TEUs, up 15 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest numbers.
The port handled 339,013 imported TEUs, a 14.3 percent spike from October 2016. Meanwhile, it moved slightly fewer exports year over year, about 0.5 percent, to 126,150 containers. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be replenished with products, rose 28.9 percent, to 204,055 TEUs.
This latest statistic reflects what continues to be a record-setting trend at the nation’s second busiest seaport. Last month was the port’s fourth-busiest of 2017 after July, September and August.
“October used to be the industry’s busiest month of the year, with retailers preparing for Christmas,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Now, with other popular shopping seasons like back-to-school, Halloween and Black Friday, ocean carriers are spreading shipments across more months to maximize the services we have developed to serve them.”
Through the first 10 months of the year, Long Beach handled 6,234,930 TEUs, a 9.5 percent increase over the same period in 2016.
“With two months left in 2017, we’re on track to have our best year ever,” said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum.
