The Port of Long Beach recorded an increase in container shipments in February, citing lower prices, rising consumer confidence and a continuous push to recapture market share.
Dockworkers and port operators moved 674,723 TEU last month, up 24.1 per cent from February 2023.
Imports increased 29.4 per cent to 329,850 TEU, while exports decreased 21.1 per cent to 87,474 TEU. Empty containers travelling through the port climbed by 44.8 per cent to 257,400 TEU.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, said: “Our top-notch customer service and ongoing efforts to attract business back to the West Coast are paying off. We continue to invest in infrastructure projects that will keep us competitive and sustainable for decades to come.”
READ: Port of Long Beach to boost rail infrastructure in 2024
Long Beach Harbor Commission President, Bobby Olvera Jr, stated: “Our highly skilled workforce has helped us achieve year-over-year increases in cargo for the last six months. Customers are taking notice that our infrastructure projects and environmental programmes make us the Port of Choice.”
The port has moved 1,348,738 TEU during the first two months of 2024, a 20.7 per cent increase from the same period in 2023.
In January, trade moving through the Port of Long Beach rose as retailers stocked up ahead of the Lunar New Year when East Asian factories typically close for up to two weeks.
