Busy April Sees Long Beach Cargo Surge

Imports, exports both on the rise

The Port of Long Beach’s April cargo numbers for containers were up by 9.7 percent overall, compared to the same month one year ago, the port said.

Weather and shopping patterns returned to normal in April, helping the port’s container volumes to rebound following a slow March due to the harsh winter in other parts of the country.

A total of 569,843 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) moved through the Port of Long Beach during April. Imports numbered 295,712 TEUs, up 11.9 percent from 2013. Exports jumped 6.3 percent to 146,498 TEUs. Empty containers were up 8.8 percent to 127,633 TEUs. Following a weak first quarter here, overall volume for the first four months of 2014 is up just 1 percent compared to the same period last year.

Last year, against which 2014 is being compared, was the third-busiest year in Port history with a total of 6.73 million TEUs.

The Port of Long Beach said it continues to invest long term and is three years into a decade-long, $4 billion program to modernize its facilities.

polb.com