THE Port of Los Angeles posted a 47 per cent year-on-year increase in February container throughput to 799,315 TEU while the adjacent Port of Long Beach posted a 43 per cent increase to 771,735 TEU - both setting historic import records
THE Port of Los Angeles posted a 47 per cent year-on-year increase in February container throughput to 799,315 TEU while the adjacent Port of Long Beach posted a 43 per cent increase to 771,735 TEU - both setting historic import records. February is typically a quiet month for these ports, but February imports - at 412,884 TEU - soared 52.9 per cent though exports - at 101,208 TEU - fell 24.7 per cent, and have suffered declines in 26 of the last 28 months.
Empty containers, which the port said remain in high demand in Asia, saw a 104 per cent annual increase to 285,223 TEU.
While LA volumes are up for the seventh consecutive month, January and February both are below the cumulative average of 908,000 TEU per month, as was the case over the last six months of 2020, which LA port executive director Gene Seroka called a 'dramatic turnaround' compared to the first six months of 2020, which had an average of 627,000 TEU.
Said Mr Seroka said: 'We are in the seventh month of a historic import surge, driven by unprecedented demands by American consumers. This represents the best February in the port's history, beating out February 2018 by 10 per cent, averaging 900 TEU over the last seven months.'
Said Port of Long Beach port executive director Mario Cordero: 'The supply chain workforce is giving its all to keep the cargo moving. New records are being set, demonstrating how busy they have been. We understand that shippers are awaiting their cargo, and we are collaborating with our industry partners to deliver shipments as quickly as possible.'
The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently announced that it expects 2021 retail sales to be up between 6.5 per cent and 8.2 per cent annually.
SeaNews Turkey
