By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Los Angeles posted record-shattering cargo numbers, moving more than 9.3 million TEUs in 2017, the most annual cargo handled by a port in the Western Hemisphere, Los Angeles port officials announced on January 12.
The nation’s busiest seaport moved 9,343,192 TEUs, 5.5 percent more than in 2016, which was also a record-breaking year for Los Angeles.
“2017 was a year beyond expectations but it was not by chance,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Our growth is a direct result of a concerted, multi-year effort by the port and its many partners to maximize efficiency throughout the supply chain. All the collaborative work by a broad range of global maritime stakeholders has delivered these remarkable results.”
The record-breaking year occurred despite a tepid December for cargo volumes. Imports dipped 2.2 percent to 385,492 TEUs and exports fell 7.3 percent to 152,865 TEUs when compared to December 2016. The port moved 779,210 TEUs in overall cargo last month, a 2.2 percent drop year over year.
But the port experienced tremendous growth in the months leading up to the end of 2017, which brought high-tech efficiency to Los Angeles in the form of a new Port Optimizer digital information portal. The portal, created in partnership with GE Transportation, gathers and organizes shipping information in a way that helps those in the supply chain better prepare for cargo arrivals.
