Annual traffic volumes up in 2012 in Port of L.A.

Port of Los Angeles Container Volumes Top 8 Million TEUs, Increase 1.7% in 2012 over Previous Year; December Volumes Drop 9.4%

The Port of Los Angeles finished 2012 with a 1.7% increase in overall cargo volumes compared to 2011. The total number of TEU for 2012 was 8,077,714 compared to 7,940,510 TEU in 2011. It is the third time in the Port’s history to eclipse 8 million TEU, the last time coming in 2007.

The year ended with soft December volumes, decreasing 9.4%, from 649,468, TEU in December 2011 to 588,154 for December 2012. December imports fell 6.7% to 296,874 TEU compared to 318,355 TEU the previous year. Exports declined 16.4% to 147,417 TEU in December 2012 compared to 176,530 TEU in December 2011.

Combined, total loaded imports and exports for December decreased 10.2%, from 494,886 TEU in December 2011 to 444,291 TEU in December 2012. Factoring in empties, which decreased 6.9% year over year, overall December 2012 volumes dropped 9.4% compared to December 2011.  < Korea Shipping Gazette >