The Port of Long Beach fluctuated near record container cargo levels to begin the new year. As the Port announced, it recorded a 0.1% decrease in comparison to its record January of 2018, which was also its busiest year.
Specifically, during January, dockworkers handled 657,286 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This is a 0.1% reduction compared to the Port’s January record set in 2018, which was the Port’s busiest year.
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As for imports, they totaled 323,838 TEUs, down by 0.3%. Exports were also reduced 2.7% to 117,288 TEUs, while the number of empty containers shipped overseas increased 1.6% to 216,160 TEUs.
Speaking about the container levels handled, the Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero, expects that as long as the economy is performing well, he expects the container trade to mirror it.
For his part, Long Beach Harbor Commission President Tracy Egoscue, noted:
While it will be a challenge to top last year, when we moved the most cargo in our 108-year history, we do anticipate modest growth in 2019,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Tracy Egoscue. The Commission would like to wish our supply chain partners in Asia a happy Lunar New Year, and prosperous months ahead