DM Monitoring
LOS ANGELES: The San Pedro Bay ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in southern California, the largest container port complex in the United States, both reported their best August numbers in history.
The monthly report released by the Port of Los Angeles Tuesday said it moved 961,833 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in August, jumping 12 percent compared to the volume in July. It was the first time since last August the port had a monthly cargo increase.
Due to the trade conflict ignited by the White House with its main trade partners like China and COVID-19 pandemic, the port has seen a consistent trend of decrease since September of last year.
While August volumes were the strongest monthly in the port’s nearly 100-year history, Los Angeles Port Executive Director Gene Seroka warned in an online briefing meeting that much uncertainty lies ahead and the overall volumes in the first eight months was still lower by 11.7 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
The Port of Long Beach also reported last week its best August in its history, with 725,610 TEUs. It marked a 9.3 percent increase compared to August of last year.
Long Beach Port Executive Director Mario Cordero also cautioned that international trade and the national economy, in light of the ongoing pandemic, remain uncertain.
In the lastest report of the Port of Los Angeles, imports cargo figure eclipsed 500,000 for the first time in history, a signal showing retailers are preparing for the upcoming holiday season and hope the spending could not be restrained after months-long lockdowns.
The twin ports see their largest cargo numbers from August through October as retailers prepare for holiday shoppers.
The San Pedro Bay Port Complex handles approximately 40 percent of all containerized imports and 30 percent exports for the United States, according to data released by the Port of Los Angeles in June last year.
