Port of Los Angeles Reports Strongest Month Ever in August

MSC Isabella at the Port of Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles recorded its first monthly cargo increase of the year in August as imports soared to a record high, helping the port to its strongest month ever.

In August, the port processed 961,833 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), up 12% from August 2019. The port said the increase was mainly driven by imports, which eclipsed 500,000 TEUs for the first time ever.

August’s loaded imports increased 18% to 516,286 TEUs compared to the previous year. Loaded exports decreased 10.2% to 131,429 TEUs. Meanwhile, empty containers increased 13.3% to 314,118 TEUs.

Overall, monthly volumes were the strongest ever at the Port of Los Angeles. Year to date, however, cargo has decreased 11.7% compared to 2019.

“In May we saw our lowest container volumes in more than a decade,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Since then, there has been a significant replenishment of warehouse inventories. Coupled with retailers planning for consumer holiday spending, it has created a surge of imports.”

There was one canceled sailing in August, with none scheduled for September. The Port had 89 vessel calls in August, including eight megaships (container ships capable of handling more than 13,000 TEUs). The 17,000-TEU-capacity APL Merlion handled nearly 29,600 TEUs during its visit in August, holding the second highest all-time record for TEUs handled in a single ship visit.

Read Next: Port of Long Beach Reports Best August Ever Amid COVID-19, Trade War Uncertainty

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