The Port of Long Beach reached its busiest March and its most active quarter on record as long-dwelling cargo continued to move out of marine terminals.
Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 863,156 twenty-foot equivalent units of container cargo last month, up 2.7% from the previous record set in March 2021. Imports increased 4.7% to 427,280 TEUs, while exports declined 18.3% to 114,185 TEUs. Empty containers moved through the Port jumped 10% to 321,691 TEUs.
“Imports are on the rise as we continue to clear the line of ships waiting to enter our Port and move containers off the docks,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Collaborating with our industry stakeholders has led to notable improvements across the supply chain.”
“Our dockworkers should be commended for a successful March by going above and beyond to keep goods moving,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “Our partnerships with labor and industry continue to make us a leader in trans-Pacific trade.”
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Although March is traditionally one of the slowest months on the shipping calendar, the Port continues to be busier amid efforts to clear cargo from the docks and reduce the number of vessels waiting to enter the port complex.
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The Port delayed the start of a “Container Dwell Fee” that would charge ocean carriers for containers that remain too long on the docks. Still, the San Pedro Bay ports – Long Beach and Los Angeles combined – have seen a 49% decline in aging cargo on the docks since the program was announced on Oct. 25.
The Port has moved 2,460,659 TEUs during the first quarter of 2022, a 3.6% increase from the same period in 2021. It was also the Port’s best quarter overall, breaking the previous record set during the fourth quarter of 2020 by 54,649 TEUs.
Source: Port of Long Beach
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