Ports Briefs: Time for Another Alta Sea Open House and The Ports of LA/LB Achieve Record-Setting July

AltaSea Open House: Towards a Carbon-Free Future from Ocean to Atmosphere

You’re invited to AltaSea to learn about how innovative technologies from the TRACER Project to Captura aim to achieve climate goals. This is a great opportunity for students of all ages to learn about ocean-based careers that turn to the ocean to develop solutions for some of the planet’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, energy supply and global food security.

Time: 10 a.m., to 12 p.m., Aug. 17 

Cost: Free

Details: https://tinyurl.com/AlteSea-Open-House 

Venue: AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, 2451 Signal Street Berth 57 Los Angeles

Record-Setting July at Both POL & POLB

     LOS ANGELES — The Port of Los Angeles handled a record-breaking 939,600 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in July, a 37% increase over the previous year. It was the best July in the port’s 116-year history and the busiest month in more than two years.

     Seven months into 2024, the Port of Los Angeles is 18% ahead of its 2023 pace. 

     “We’ve seen an influx of year-end holiday goods coming across our docks a bit earlier than usual to avoid any risk of delay later in the year,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said at a media briefing. “These goods – think toys, electronics and clothing – are arriving at the same time as more typical back-to-school, fall fashion and Halloween merchandise. An early peak season has helped to boost volumes here in Los Angeles.

     “I’m grateful to our dedicated dockworkers, terminal operators, truck drivers, and all other stakeholders who work tirelessly every day to move all this cargo with remarkable speed and efficiency,” Seroka added.

     Paul Bingham, an S&P Global Intelligence economist and data analyst, joined the port’s media briefing. Bingham discussed a variety of issues impacting the supply chain, including East Coast dock worker negotiations, Red Sea cargo diversions and the possibility of additional tariffs.

     WATCH BRIEFING HERE

     July 2024 loaded imports landed at 501,281 TEUs, a 38% spike compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 114,889 TEUs, an increase of 4% compared to last year. It was the 14th consecutive month of year-over-year export gains in Los Angeles.

     The port processed 323,431 empty containers, a 54% jump compared to 2023.

     Overall, the port has moved 5,671,091 TEUs the first seven months of 2024, an 18% increase over the 2023 mark.

    And in Long Beach, surging cargo volumes lifted the Port of Long Beach to its most active July on record – and the third-busiest month in its 113-year history – as retailers stocked up on goods headed into the peak shipping season.

     Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 882,376 twenty-foot equivalent units in July, up 52.6% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record set in July 2022 by 12.4%. Imports soared 60.5% to 435,081 TEUs, exports grew 16.3% to 104,834 TEUs, and empty containers moved through the port jumped 57.8% to 342,462 TEUs.

     “We’re in a strong position heading into the peak shipping season as consumers purchase back-to-school supplies and shippers move goods ahead of potential tariff increases,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We have plenty of capacity across our terminals and cargo continues to move efficiently and sustainably at this premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade.”

     The port has moved 5,174,002 TEUs during the first seven months of 2024, up 20% from the same period last year.