Dockworkers and terminal operators in the port of Long Beach (POLB) moved 829,429 TEUs in September, up 11.8% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record set in September 2020 by 78,849 TEUs.
Therefore, the Californian port achieved its busiest September on record, mainly driven by consumer demand for holiday-related goods and the recent ratification of a labor pact between dockworkers and management.
September also marked the port’s first monthly year-over-year container increase in 14 months for the port of Long Beach.
Imports rose 19.3% to 408,926 TEUs, while exports declined 10.3% to 101,248 TEUs. Additionally, empty containers moving through the San Pedro Bay port grew 11.5% to 319,255 TEUs.
“Consumer confidence is on the rise and shippers can rely on the Port of Choice now that we have a ratified contract in place with our waterfront workforce,” said POLB CEO, Mario Cordero.
The major box port in the United States has moved 5,822,666 TEUs during the first nine months of 2023, down 20.7% from the same period last year. Cargo volume this year has been on pace with pre-pandemic levels, when the port of Long Beach moved more than 5.7 million TEUs from January to September 2019.
