Posted on July 20, 2022
The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach set records last month, logging the highest June cargo volumes ever year over year.
Los Angeles processed 876,611 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in June, resulting in a total 5.4 million TEUs handled year to date, POLA officials said in a press release.
Loaded imports were recorded at 444,680 TEUs, a 5% decrease since 2021 but a 12% increase over the previous five-year average for June. Empty containers reached 338,041 TEUs, up just over 8%.
The port has been able to shrink the number of vessels waiting to dock by 75% since the beginning of the year, said POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka.
“We’re already beginning to handle back-to-school, fall fashion and year-end holiday goods. Despite inflation and higher-than-usual inventory, we expect cargo volume to remain robust the second half of the year,” Seroka said.
At Long Beach, the port moved 835,412 TEUs, up 15.3% over June 2021 and surpassing the previous record set in June 2018 by 83,224 units, POLB officials said in a press release.
Imports climbed 16.4% to 415,677 TEUs, while exports dipped 1.4% to 115,303 TEUs. Empty containers rose 21.6% to 304,433 TEUs.
POLB has processed 5,007,778 TEUs for the first six months of 2022, up 5.3% over the same period last year. The second quarter was also the port’s best quarter in its history with 2,547,119 TEUs moved, breaking the previous record set during Q1 2022 by 86,460 units.
“We are anticipating a robust summer season as consumer demand continues to drive cargo to our docks,” said POLB Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We expect to remain moderately busy in the coming months, and we will work to promptly process containers lingering at the port.”
