Los Angeles Port sets Highest Western Hemisphere record
Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles reached 8,856,782 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in 2016, marking the busiest year ever for a Western Hemisphere Port. The previous record was set in 2006, when the Port of Los Angeles handled 8,469,853 TEUs. “The Port of L.A. is America’s Port — and we’re breaking records because we understand the importance of innovating and collaborating to move our economy forward,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. The Port finished the year strong, with December volumes of 796,536 TEUs, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year. It was the Port’s busiest December and fourth quarter in its 110-year history. Overall in 2016, cargo increased 8.5 percent compared to 2015.
US Retail Imports Turn Toward Holiday Season
August should be the busiest month of the year for import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports now that retailers have stocked up for back-to-school and are getting a head start on holiday season merchandise. That’s according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, which said cargo volume for 2016 should end the year with a 1.6 percent increase over last year. “Shoppers are right in the middle of buying back-to-school products but the retail supply chain is already preparing for the holiday season…
Retail Imports Wind Down After End of Holiday Season
With the holiday season over, import cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports is expected to slowly decline through the first quarter of the year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “This is the time of year when the retail supply chain catches its breath before the next big rush begins,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. Ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.48 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in November…
Late again, but who is to blame?
With the peak season now in full flow, cargo rollovers are more likely, but ocean carriers are not the only party to blame. Cargo no-shows and phantom bookings are still a major headache for ocean carriers, particularly during the peak season. Whilst cargo booked from Asia to Europe was being rolled onto following vessels at the beginning of July due to a combination of unusual circumstances (see last week’s analysis of the Asia-North Europe tradelane for more details), some ships still sailed light due to last minute booking cancellations.
