Tuesday, April 17, 2018

LA Volumes Drop for March

By Karen Robes Meeks

After months of rising cargo numbers at the Port of Los Angeles, volumes last month dropped 27 percent from the same period last year.

The port handled 577,865 TEUs in overall cargo, 264,460 of those were imports, which fell 29.2 percent from March 2017. Exports also dropped 14.6 percent to 163,706 TEUs and empty containers (which are shipped overseas to be replenished with goods) dove 33 percent to 149,699 TEUs.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said the dip was expected following a record February when shippers rushed to move product before the Lunar New Year, when much of Asia slows business for about two weeks to celebrate the holiday.

“We’re comparing our numbers to an extraordinary 29 percent volume gain last March so a decline is not unexpected,” he said. “Lunar New Year timing and subsequent canceled or reduced sailings played a factor. We continue to focus on our efforts to make facility and technology enhancements that position us for long-term efficiency and productivity gains.”