The Port of Los Angeles moved 581,665 TEUs in May, a 29.8% decrease compared to last year’s record-setting May, said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka in a news briefing. Five months into 2020, overall cargo volumes have decreased 18.6% compared to 2019.
Softer volumes resulted from canceled sailings due to COVID-19, trade war and shifts in liner services, he explained.
As the US economy begins to recover, we expect fewer canceled sailings and an uptick in cargo compared to previous months. We continue to invest through this global economic downturn in the infrastructure and technology that will assist us in driving our competitive advantage now and in the future.
Specifically:
- May loaded imports decreased 28.4% to 306,323 TEUs;
- Loaded exports dropped 37.6% to 104,382 TEUs;
- Empty containers declined 26.8% to 170,960 TEUs.
The Port of Los Angeles remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic.
North America’s leading seaport by container volume, the Port of LA facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019.
San Pedro Bay port operations facilitate one in nine jobs in the five-county Southern California region.
