POLA Breaks Cargo Record in 2021, Sets Priorities for 2022

SAN PEDRO — Breaking its previous calendar year record by 13%, the Port of Los Angeles processed about 10.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent units or TEUs during 2021. The milestone, a Western Hemisphere record, was announced by port executive director Gene Seroka in his address at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association’s seventh annual “State of the Port” event, held virtually this year.

Recapping the year, Seroka reiterated the importance of industry coming together to address challenges of the global supply chain, and highlighted the port’s unprecedented engagement with stakeholders at all levels of industry and government to find solutions, including the Biden-Harris Administration and the California Gov. Gavin Newsom administration. Seroka applauded the renewed attention and government investments being made in ports nationwide, including the $17 billion earmarked in the recently passed national Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the $2.3 billion Newsom has earmarked in his California state budget for the upcoming year.

Looking ahead, Seroka outlined key Port initiatives and priorities on tap for 2022 and beyond, including: Supply Chain Efficiency; Workforce Development and Job Creation; Cybersecurity; Environment. 

POLB Sets Annual Record With 9.38 Million TEUs

LONG BEACH —The Port of Long Beach set a new record in 2021 by moving 9.38 million cargo containers as dockworkers and terminal operators worked to clear the docks amid an historic, pandemic-induced import surge.

The Port ended 2021 with 9,384,368 twenty-foot equivalent units processed, a 15.7% increase from the previous record of more than 8.11 million TEUs moved in 2020. Imports jumped 14.6% to 4,581,846 TEUs and exports declined 2.6% to 1,437,916 TEUs compared to last year. Empty containers moving through the Port were up 27.5% to 3,364,606 TEUs.

The significant increase in cargo was driven by evolving consumer spending habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for vacations, dining out and entertainment declined due to health precautions and pivoted toward home office supplies, furniture and exercise equipment.

The Port of Long Beach had 980 container vessel calls in 2021, down from 1,042 a year earlier due to the elimination of “dual calls” for some shipping services that moved up and down the West Coast.

Trade was down 7.5% in December compared to the same period in 2020 with 754,314 cargo container units moved. Imports declined 11.7% to 358,687 TEUs. Exports dropped 13.9% to 113,918 TEUs, while empty containers climbed 1.5% to 281,709 TEUs.