THE US and China trade war continues to bear down on the US' biggest port complex of Long Beach and Los Angeles, where imports fell in November with neither port expecting the market to turnaround in the coming months.
The November numbers were worse for the port of Los Angeles on its own. The larger of the ports, suffered a 12.2 per cent decline in imports from last year and a 9.2 per cent drop in exports. Overall, the port experienced a 12.4 per cent decrease in containers.
Imports at the port of Long Beach, fell by 8.3 per cent, while exports rose by 6.9 per cent. Overall, the port saw a 3.5 per cent year-on-year decrease in November.
Still, the Los Angeles port's total volume this year is 0.4 per cent higher than this time last year. The Long Beach port, meanwhile, saw total volume year-to-date decline by 5.2 per cent, the Press-Telegram of Los Angeles reported.
Long Beach port's executive director Mario Cordero said 'we're on the verge of having our second-best year in our 108-year history.
'Long Beach has had a fairly low, single-digit year-to-year diminishment,' Mr Cordero added. 'We're working hard to continue with the level of customer service and making sure this continues to be the port of choice.'
Los Angeles port executive director Gene Seroka said his team continues to look ahead.
'Although we anticipate tariffs will linger well into 2020,' Mr Seroka said in a statement, 'we will continue to aggressively invest in our physical and digital infrastructure through this economic cycle.'
Mr Seroka chalked up the LA port's lacklustre report to the ongoing tariffs, which he said 'negatively impact American consumers, manufacturers and US supply chain jobs.'
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that US officials may delay the planned December 15 tariffs, adding further uncertainty to the port comple'?s immediate future.
WORLD SHIPPING
The November numbers were worse for the port of Los Angeles on its own. The larger of the ports, suffered a 12.2 per cent decline in imports from last year and a 9.2 per cent drop in exports. Overall, the port experienced a 12.4 per cent decrease in containers.
Imports at the port of Long Beach, fell by 8.3 per cent, while exports rose by 6.9 per cent. Overall, the port saw a 3.5 per cent year-on-year decrease in November.
Still, the Los Angeles port's total volume this year is 0.4 per cent higher than this time last year. The Long Beach port, meanwhile, saw total volume year-to-date decline by 5.2 per cent, the Press-Telegram of Los Angeles reported.
Long Beach port's executive director Mario Cordero said 'we're on the verge of having our second-best year in our 108-year history.
'Long Beach has had a fairly low, single-digit year-to-year diminishment,' Mr Cordero added. 'We're working hard to continue with the level of customer service and making sure this continues to be the port of choice.'
Los Angeles port executive director Gene Seroka said his team continues to look ahead.
'Although we anticipate tariffs will linger well into 2020,' Mr Seroka said in a statement, 'we will continue to aggressively invest in our physical and digital infrastructure through this economic cycle.'
Mr Seroka chalked up the LA port's lacklustre report to the ongoing tariffs, which he said 'negatively impact American consumers, manufacturers and US supply chain jobs.'
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that US officials may delay the planned December 15 tariffs, adding further uncertainty to the port comple'?s immediate future.
WORLD SHIPPING