Port of Long Beach container volumes drop in May

Port of Long Beach

Overall container traffic at the Port of Long Beach dropped 7.2% in May compared to the same period a year ago, with imports down 9.2% and exports down 0.8%.

Last month, Port terminals handled 497,892 TEU compared to 536,686 TEU in May 2011.

Imports containers accounted for 249,937 TEU compared to 275,100 TEU in May 2011.

 Exports accounted for 129,083 TEU compared to 130,161 TEU a year ago.

Calendar year to date, overall container traffic at the Port is down 6.1% through May.

The decrease in volumes is partly due to the elimination of several niche service strings that had called at the Port last year.

As the port enters the cargo peak season in the latter summer months, some business is returning to the Port, however.

Three new strings of vessels from Asia began calling on Long Beach in late May. Combined, the three services are expected to add as much as 500,000 TEU through the remainder of the calendar year.

Empty container moves were down 9.6% to 118,872 TEU in May compared to 131,420 TEU in May 2011. Empty containers are sent overseas to be refilled with goods. < Korea Shipping Gazette >