Amid COVID-19 situation, Port of Long Beach marked a 11.1% year-on-year (YoY) decline in its cargo TEUs traffic during June, while noted a 6.9% drop in the first half of 2020.
According to the port, the coronavirus crisis keeps affecting the demand for goods and increase blank sailings.
In fact, the port managed to move 602.180 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during June, an 11.1% decline in comparison to the same month last year.
Our overall cargo numbers may be down, but records continue to be broken thanks to the hard work and collaboration of terminal operators and dockworkers. The economic recovery is going to take some time, but we are optimistic for the future of the Port and our partnerships with labor and the entire goods movement industry.
… said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal.
At the same time, imports shrank 9.3% to 300.714 TEUs and exports dropped 12.2% to 117.538 TEUs.
For the records, empty containers shipped overseas to Asia were down 13.1% to 183.928 TEUs.
In light of the above, Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, said:
Canceled sailings continued to rise at a rapid rate in the second quarter as ocean carriers adjusted their voyages to a decline in demand for imports during the national COVID-19 outbreak. The economic challenges may persist for some time, but the Port of Long Beach continues to invest in infrastructure projects that will meet the needs of our customers.
Concluding, San Pedro Bay ports complex – Long Beach and L.A. combined – had 41 canceled sailings in the first half of 2019. This year it was 104 – 37 of which were destined for the Port of Long Beach.
