By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Long Beach moved 618,438 TEUs last month—a 10.8 percent jump when compared to April 2017, according to numbers released Monday. Imports rose 8.4 percent to 312,376 TEUs and exports soared 22 percent to 141,799 TEUs. Empty containers were also up seven percent with 164,264 TEUs.
These totals add to the port’s 17 percent growth in cargo movement for the first four months of the year in which the port has handled 2.5 million TEUs. It’s also on track to beat last year’s record pace, according to the port.
“Both imports and exports are beating expectations so far this year,” said port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “For us, part of that is the shift of services we saw a year ago, but at least some of our strong growth appears to be a result of trade tensions as anxious shippers rush to get their cargo to overseas markets.”
The global economy has benefited from a slow yet robust economic expansion, said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum.
“As long as it continues we expect to play a big role since we’re a natural trade conduit between United States and China, the world’s two largest economies,” she said.
