POLA, POLB Both Show Soft First Quarters in March

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles processed 623,234 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in March, closing out a soft first quarter. For the first three months of 2023, the Port of Los Angeles handled 1,837,094 TEUs, down 32% compared to 2022, which was the best Q1 in the Port’s history. 

Seroka announced the first quarter data at a media briefing, where he was joined by Peter Voorhoeve, President of Volvo Trucks North America. Voorhoeve outlined the work being done by Volvo and the Port of Los Angeles to bring zero-emission, heavy-duty trucks to market. Volvo, along with other original equipment manufacturers, are collaborating with the port with the goal of transitioning the port’s drayage fleet to zero emissions by 2035.

Port of Los Angeles April 2023 Cargo News Briefing https://tinyurl.com/POLA-cargo-briefing 

March 2023 loaded imports reached 319,962 TEUs, down 35% compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 98,276 TEUs, a decline of 12% compared to last year. Empty containers landed at 204,996 TEUs, a 42% year-over-year decline.

And at the Port of Long Beach, trade in March declined nearly one-third from the same period last year. Retailers continue to clear warehouses and shippers shuffle routes from the West Coast to seaports on the East and Gulf coasts.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 603,878 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, down 30% from March 2022, which was the port’s busiest March on record. Imports decreased 34.7% to 279,148 TEUs while exports increased 16.9% to 133,512 TEUs. Empty containers moved through the port declined 40.5% to 191,218 TEUs.

The Port has moved 1,721,326 TEUs during the first quarter of 2023, down 30% from the same period in 2022.