Ports Briefs: POLA, POLB Experience February Rise in Volume and Trade Activity”

POLA February Cargo Volume Jumps 60% Over Previous Year

SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles processed 781,434 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in February, a 60% increase over the previous year. It was the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year growth at the nation’s busiest port.

“Market confidence in our gateway is as strong as it’s ever been,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka at today’s media briefing. “We’ve got the world’s best longshore workforce eager to work with a long-term contract in place. And our current operational data indicates that cargo is flowing efficiently, with additional capacity available.

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Seroka was joined at the port’s media briefing by Leo Huisman, APM Terminals’ Regional Managing Director, Americas. Huisman oversees 14 container terminals in eight countries across North and South America, including APM Terminals Pacific at the Port of Los Angeles.

Two months into 2024, the Port of Los Angeles has handled a total of 1,637,086 TEUs, a 35% increase over 2023.

Trade Rises at Port of Long Beach in February

Cooling inflation, rising consumer confidence and an ongoing effort to recapture market share boosted cargo shipments moving through the Port of Long Beach in February.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 674,723 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 24.1% from February 2023. Imports were up 29.4% to 329,850 TEUs and exports declined 21.1% to 87,474 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port increased 44.8% to 257,400 TEUs.

The Port has moved 1,348,738 TEUs during the first two months of 2024, a 20.7% increase from the same period in 2023.