Long Beach Port Volume Hits Six-Year High, Exports up Dramatically

Containerized cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach surged 16% in August compared to the same month a year ago, with double-digit percentage gains in both imports and exports.

A total of 630,292 TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units) moved through the facility last month. Imports increased 19.2% to 327,817 TEUs. Exports were up by 20.2% to 154,118 TEUs.

For the first eight months of 2013, overall cargo container volume is up 13.6% including 16.2% more imports and 10.9% more exports.

August was not only the busiest month in 2013 so far, but is the busiest month for cargo at Long Beach since October 2007. August through October each year is traditionally the peak season for ocean-borne imports, as retailers prepare for a rise in buying as the end-of-the-year holidays approach.