Image Courtesy: Port of Long Beach
Cargo container volumes at two Californian ports, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles, decreased in July, compared to the same month last year.
Volumes at the Port of Long Beach were down 7.7 percent in July, compared to the same month in 2015, when the port handled a record amount of cargo in its history.
The port’s terminals moved 637,091 TEUs during this July. Imports went down to 352,608 TEUs, a decrease of 5.9 percent from July in 2015. The port also saw a 0.7 percent decrease in its exports, that totaled 142,812 TEUs.
“Due to continued market uncertainty and high inventory levels, the traditional holiday peak season is off to a slow start and several national forecasts have been revised downward to reflect this softness in cargo movement,” the port authority said.
Furthermore, the Port of Los Angeles’ overall cargo volumes slipped 1.6 percent in July, totaling 687,891 TEUs, mostly due to a decline in the shipment of empty containers. However, for the first seven months of 2016, year-to-date volumes have increased 4.75 percent compared to 2015.
The port’s loaded exports dropped 2.8 percent to 132,490 TEUs. On the other hand, loaded imports increased by 5.15 percent to 368,696 TEUs.
“As retailers prepare for consumer needs during the holiday season, we’re encouraged to see import volumes increase,” Gene Seroka, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, said.
In contrast, another US West Coast port, the port of Oakland, recorded its busiest July in a decade this year.
The port handled 223,619 TEUs, the most since it lifted 227,996 TEUs in 2006.
Source: http://worldmaritimenews.com