The Port of Los Angeles had its busiest June to date, handling 876,430 TEUs last month, a 27% jump from the same time a year ago, according to statistics released by the port Wednesday.
The port moved 27% more imports with 467,763 TEUs and handled 96,067 TEUs in exports last month, a 12% drop from June 2020 and the smallest amount of exported cargo in 16 years.
Meanwhile, Asia’s demand for empty containers continues. The port showed a 47% spike in empties, moving 312,600 TEUs last month.
The port closed its fiscal year ending on June 30 with nearly 11 million TEUs, a first for a Western Hemisphere seaport.
“Key economic indicators all suggest that U.S. consumer spending will remain strong through the remainder of 2021,” port Executive Director Gene Seroka said. “Even as Americans return to airline travel, vacations and in-person events, retail sales and e-commerce remain robust.”
Fall-forward goods such as back-to-school and Halloween items are arriving at the port, with some retailers shipping year-end holiday products early, Seroka added.
“All signs point to a robust second half of the year, which is good news for the nearly 1 million residents in the region who have jobs tied to the San Pedro Bay port complex,” he said.