October Container Numbers Up at Port of LA

The Port of Los Angeles released its October 2014 containerized cargo volumes, which saw overall volumes increased 4.6 percent compared to October 2013, while total cargo for October was 715,682 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

“While increasing cargo volume is our objective, the congestion circumstances in recent months have caused delays for cargo owners that absolutely must and will be resolved,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We continue working with our customers and logistics partners to do everything possible to relieve the current situation and design solutions that will better enable the supply chain in the future.”

Seroka and his port team have facilitated recent meetings that resulted in a new chassis distribution model to be implemented on February 1. Additionally, Port officials are working with stakeholders on short and long-term solutions to improve operational efficiencies and cargo velocity throughout the logistics chain. Information technology solutions will be a central theme of the required design improvements.

For the first 10 months of calendar year 2014, overall volumes (7,018,152 TEUs) have increased 7.5 percent compared to the same period in 2013 (6,531,374 TEUs). The increase reflects the conclusion of peak season volumes and larger vessels calling at the Port of Los Angeles.

Container imports increased 7.2 percent, from 346,137 TEUs in October 2013 to 370,938 TEUs in October 2014. Exports declined 6.7 percent, from 169,568 TEUs in October 2013 to 158,181 TEUs in October 2014. U.S. exports have declined in 2014 due to weaker demand abroad and a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods more expensive.

Combined, total loaded imports and exports increased 2.6 percent, from 515,705 TEUs in October 2013 to 529,119 TEUs in October 2014. Factoring in empties, which increased 10.7 percent year over year, overall October 2014 volumes (715,682 TEUs) rose 4.6 percent compared to October 2013 (684,207 TEUs).