Cargo Volumes Up at Port of Los Angeles Despite Trade War

FILE PHOTO: Shipping containers are pictured at Yusen Terminals (YTI) on Terminal Island at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

The Port of Los Angles set a new single-month cargo record last month despite Trade War uncertainty and declining exports.

The Port of Los Angeles reported Monday that it moved 912,154 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, marking the busiest July ever for United States’ busiest container port.

“Container exchange per vessel reached 9,915 TEUs, the highest and most efficient level we’ve ever experienced,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Despite the continued decline in exports and high level of uncertainty driven by trade tensions, we continue to optimize our facilities and are grateful for the support and confidence of our supply chain partners.”

According to the Port of Los Angeles, July 2019 imports increased 8.7 percent to 476,438 TEUs compared to 2018. Exports decreased 4 percent to 161,340 TEUs, while empty containers increased 20.7% to 274,376 TEUs.

Combined, overall July cargo volumes were 912,154 TEUs, marking the third busiest month in the port’s history and only the fourth time volumes have surpassed the 900,000 TEU mark.

Seven months into 2019 overall volumes have increased 6 percent compared to 2018, when the port set an all-time cargo record.

At neighboring Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second-busiest container port, volumes fell nearly 10 percent in July from impacts from the ongoing Trade War. The Port of Long Beach reported reported cargo volume of total 621,780 TEUs, down 9.7 percent compared to July 2018.