Port of Los Angeles still number one

Container volumes at the Port of Los Angeles increased 6 percent in 2014 over the previous year, with total volumes reaching 8,340,065 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEU).  It was the third busiest year in the Port’s history, just behind 8.4 million TEUs in 2007 and 8.5 million TEUs in 2006.

“The 2014 numbers are an encouraging indication that the national economy continues to improve,” said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka.  “Beyond that, the second half of the year ushered in a mix of unprecedented challenges due to transformational changes in the shipping line business.  We are working hard to help our customers and supply chain partners overcome those challenges and urge them to work together with us to find solutions. Additionally, we join cargo owners and industry stakeholders nationwide in encouraging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association to work with urgency and good faith toward a new labor contract.”

Zepol, a global trade and intelligence provider based in Minneapolis, still ranks Los Angeles as the number one U.S. ocean cargo gateway.

In December 2014, overall volumes increased 1 percent compared to December 2013. Total cargo for December 2014 was 658,567 TEUs compared to 653,358 TEUs in December 2013.
     
Container imports in December increased 4.4%, from 322,500 TEUs in December 2013 to 336,674 TEUs in December 2014. Exports declined 12 percent, from 172,261 TEUs in December 2013 to 152,112 TEUs in December 2014. U.S. exports have been declining in recent months due to weaker demand abroad and a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods more expensive.
 
Combined, total loaded imports and exports fell 1.2 percent, from 494,761 TEUs in December 2013 to 488,786 TEUs in December 2014. Factoring in empties, which increased 7 percent year over year, overall December 2014 volumes (658,567 TEUs) edged up 1 percent compared to December 2013 (653,358 TEUs).