Port of Long Beach off to a great start in 2018, sets another cargo record

April 17, 2018: Port of Long Beach’s terminals have handled almost 1.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the period January-March. The surge is 19.4 percent more when compared to first quarter of last year, helping the port record it’s best-ever first quarter. The previous first quarter record was set in 2007.

The port serves 175 shipping lines with connections to 217 seaports around the world.

In the month of March, cargo throughput reached 575,258 TEUs, an increase of 13.8 percent compared to the same month last year.

“Our March cargo jumped despite the shipping slowdown during the Lunar New Year holiday in China,” said Mario Cordero, executive director, Port of Long Beach. “One of the most encouraging signs throughout this surge in cargo last year and this year is the operational efficiency at our marine terminals. We are handling record levels of cargo with no delays.”

Exports grew 18.3 percent to 142,419 TEUs. The large number of imported goods demanded by American consumers meant container ships hauled 165,015 empty TEUs overseas to be refilled.

“Our business development trips are bringing us more trade activity,” said Lou Anne Bynum, president, Harbor Commission. “We see favorable responses during our visits with our overseas partners.”