Port of Los Angeles Processes Record 10 Million TEUs for New Western Hemisphere Record

The Port of Los Angeles has become the first port in the Western Hemisphere to handle 10 million twenty-foot equivalent containers (TUE) over a 12-month period.

The port celebrated the milestone with the loading of the container signifying the 10 millionth TEU on board the CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci bound for China.

The record follows an unprecedented cargo boom that began last summer as the U.S. economy rebounded from COVID-19 shut-downs and consumers boosted their online shopping.

In April, Port of Los Angeles reported handling 946,966 TEUs for its best April in the port’s history and its ninth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Similar record-setting numbers are expected from the port for May.

The Port of Los Angeles’ strong statistics are helped in part by the large number of empties being sent back overseas caused by the trade imbalance and heavy demand in Asia. In April, empty containers reached 342,391 TEUs for a jump of 82% compared to last year. By comparison, loaded exports last month came in at only 114,449 TEU for 12% decline year-over-year, while imports led with 490,127 TEU.