CONTAINER traffic slowed at the Port of long Beach in April as consumers continued to limit purchases and shippers diverted from the west coast to east coast ports.
Dockers and terminal operators moved 656,049 TEU last month, down 20.1 per cent from April 2022, which was the port's busiest April on record. Looking at consecutive months, overall cargo volumes gained 8.6 per cent from March with imports up 12 per cent month over month.
April's imports declined 21.8 per cent to 313,444 TEU, while exports increased a narrow 0.6 per cent to 122,663 TEU. Empties decreased 26.2 per cent to 219,943 TEU.
'The unprecedented consumer demand we saw at the height of Covid has diminished and cargo flows are now closer to pre-pandemic levels,' said Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero. 'We expect slow growth in the second half of 2023, as retailers continue to clear surplus inventory from their warehouses.'
'Our facilities, dockworkers, marine terminal operators and staff continue to make this the premier gateway for transpacific goods movement,' said Long Beach Harbour Commission president Sharon Weissman. 'So we do expect cargo volumes to rebound eventually as shippers seek out the top-notch customer service of the port of choice.'
So far this year the Port of Long Beach has moved 2,377,375 TEU during the first four months of 2023, down 27.5 per cent from the same period in 2022.
SeaNews Turkey
Dockers and terminal operators moved 656,049 TEU last month, down 20.1 per cent from April 2022, which was the port's busiest April on record. Looking at consecutive months, overall cargo volumes gained 8.6 per cent from March with imports up 12 per cent month over month.
April's imports declined 21.8 per cent to 313,444 TEU, while exports increased a narrow 0.6 per cent to 122,663 TEU. Empties decreased 26.2 per cent to 219,943 TEU.
'The unprecedented consumer demand we saw at the height of Covid has diminished and cargo flows are now closer to pre-pandemic levels,' said Port of Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero. 'We expect slow growth in the second half of 2023, as retailers continue to clear surplus inventory from their warehouses.'
'Our facilities, dockworkers, marine terminal operators and staff continue to make this the premier gateway for transpacific goods movement,' said Long Beach Harbour Commission president Sharon Weissman. 'So we do expect cargo volumes to rebound eventually as shippers seek out the top-notch customer service of the port of choice.'
So far this year the Port of Long Beach has moved 2,377,375 TEU during the first four months of 2023, down 27.5 per cent from the same period in 2022.
SeaNews Turkey
