Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles experienced its busiest non-pandemic month ever in August 2024, handling 960,597 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), a 16% increase from the previous year. This surge in activity has put the port 17% ahead of its 2023 pace for the first eight months of the year.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka attributed the growth to continued consumer spending and inventory replenishment. “The American consumer continues to spend and that’s helping to power our economy,” Seroka stated at a media briefing.
“Some of the cargo arriving now is replenishing inventories even beyond the year-end holiday season.”
Seroka also acknowledged the hard work behind the numbers: “It’s been a very busy summer on our docks and I’m thankful to all of our dedicated waterfront workers and terminal operators for their commitment to handling this level of volume safely and efficiently through America’s Port.”
Next door, the Port of Long Beach also saw unprecedented growth in August, processing 913,873 TEUs in August for a 33.9% increase over last year and surpassing the port’s previous all-time monthly record set in May 2021. The port said the surge comes as retailers rush to move goods ahead of potential tariff increases and ongoing labor negotiations at East and Gulf coast ports.
Imports at the Port of Long Beach saw a significant jump of 40.4% to 456,868 TEUs, marking the third consecutive month where loaded imports exceeded 400,000 TEUs. Exports rose 12% to 104,646 TEUs, while empty containers moved through the port increased 33.7% to 352,360 TEUs.
The impressive August figures contribute to a strong year-to-date performance, with the Port of Long Beach handling 6,087,875 TEUs in the first eight months of 2024, a 21.9% increase from the same period last year.
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