The docks were busy last month in Long Beach, lifting the Port to the best September in its 108-year history.
Dockworkers moved 706,956 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September, 0.8% more than the same month a year ago. Imports were down 0.7% to 354,919 TEUs, while exports were up 1.4% to 123,215 TEUs. Empty containers moved out of the United States to be reused in the global supply chain rose 2.9% to 228,822 TEUs.
“We saw increased ship calls in September,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “We’re ready to provide high-quality service to all vessels, though we continue to advocate for an end to the cycle of tariffs to give American businesses the certainty they need to thrive. I’d like to thank our terminal operators, the ILWU, ocean carriers, beneficial cargo owners and our many supply chain partners who made this record result possible.”
Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal thanked shippers for their continued confidence.
“The Port of Long Beach is going to have one of its busiest years ever, despite the challenges related to the trade war,” said Lowenthal. “Top-notch customer service is our calling card, and we’ll continue to collaborate with our customers to enhance their ability to move cargo faster and more reliably during these challenging times.”
During the third quarter, the Port processed 1,992,728 TEUs. The pace was 3.7% down from third quarter 2018, a year when the Port was well on its way to an annual total of 8.1 million TEUs, an all-time high. Through September, cargo volumes have decreased 5.7%, compared to the first nine months of 2018.
