Long Beach port sees drop in container trade lowest in nine months

The total number of cargo containers shipped through the Port of Long Beach declined 13.8 percent in August, compared with the same month a year ago. It was the smallest year-to-year decline for any month since November 2008.

The Port's shipping terminals moved 493,339 TEU in August, compared to 572,256 a year ago.

Imported cargo dropped 11.7 percent, to 249,920 TEU, compared to last year, but has risen steadily since June as retailers stock up for the holidays.

Exports declined 14.9 percent to 130,623 TEU. The number of empty containers, most of which are sent overseas to be refilled with products, declined by 16.8 percent to 112,796 TEU. So far in 2009, the overall container trade is down by 25.1 percent compared to the same period in 2008.