The conclusion of 2023 saw the Port of Long Beach (POLB) handle 8,018,668 TEUs, marking a 12.2% decrease from the previous year, but surpassing pre-pandemic levels reported in 2019.
Import volumes at the Californian port declined by 12.7% to 3,804,356 TEUs, while exports experienced a 9.4% drop to 1,282,437 TEUs. Additionally, empty container movements decreased by 12.7% to 2,931,876 TEUs.
Port of Long Beach saw its San Pedro Bay neighbour in Los Angeles achieving a slightly better result with 8,634,497 TEUs. However, the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) also reported a similar volume decline compared to 2022 figures.
The Port of Long Beach remains a key player in the Transpacific trade, handling US$200 billion worth of trade annually and supporting 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California.
Sources: Container News