Ports Briefs: POLA Finishes First Quarter Up 30% Over Previous Year, Cargo Growth Continues at POLB

LOS ANGELES —The Port of Los Angeles handled 743,417 container units in March, a 19% increase over the previous year. It was the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year growth at POLA.

For the first quarter ending March 31, local dockworkers moved 2,380,503 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) across Los Angeles marine terminals––nearly 30% more than 2023. It was among the Port’s best first quarter starts, behind only the pandemic import surge in 2021 and 2022.

Seroka was joined at the port’s media briefing by Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology. As deputy assistant to President Biden, Neuberger advises on matters related to cybersecurity, digital innovation and emerging technologies.

Among other topics, Neuberger shared insights on President Biden’s recent Executive Order to bolster cybersecurity at U.S. ports.

WATCH BRIEFING HERE

March 2024 loaded imports landed at 379,542 TEUs, up 19% compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 144,718 TEUs, an increase of 47% compared to last year. It was the Port’s best export month since January 2020 and marked 10 consecutive months of year-over-year export gains.

The port processed 219,158 empty containers, up 7% over 2023.

     And cargo growth continued at Port of Long Beach. In a press release, POLB said rising consumer confidence lifted trade moving through the port  in March, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year cargo growth.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 654,082 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, an 8.3% increase from March 2023. Imports grew 8.4% to 302,521 TEUs and exports were down 21.3% to 105,099 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the port jumped 28.9% to 246,464 TEUs.

The Port has moved 2,002,820 TEUs during the first quarter of 2024, up 16.4% from the same period in 2023.