In February, the Port of Long Beach experienced a surge in cargo shipments, driven by several factors such as cooling inflation, growing consumer confidence and a concerted effort to regain market share.
Dockworkers and terminal operators at the Californian port handled a total of 674,723 TEUs during the second month of the year, marking a significant increase of 24.1% compared to February 2023.
Import volumes saw a notable rise of 29.4% to reach 329,850 TEUs, while exports experienced a decline of 21.1% to 87,474 TEUs. Additionally, there was a substantial uptick of 44.8% in the movement of empty containers through the San Pedro Bay port, totalling 257,400 TEUs.
“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,” stated Mario Cordero, CEO at Port of Long Beach.
Furthermore, during the initial two months of 2024, the Port handled a total of 1,348,738 TEUs, indicating a robust growth of 20.7% compared to the corresponding period in 2023.
“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 programs make us the Port of Choice,” said Bobby Olvera Jr, president of the Long Beach Harbor Commission.
