The Port of Long Beach recorded its busiest September to date, with a significant boost in consumer demand for holiday-related goods, a recently ratified labor agreement between dockworkers and management, and efforts to highlight the port’s business advantages.

In September, dockworkers and terminal operators handled 829,429 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an 11.8% increase from the same month in the previous year. This surpassed the previous record set in September 2020 by 78,849 TEUs. This was also the first monthly year-over-year cargo increase in 14 months.

Import volumes surged by 19.3% to 408,926 TEUs, while exports decreased by 10.3% to 101,248 TEUs. Empty containers passing through the port increased by 11.5% to 319,255 TEUs.

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero attributed this success to rising consumer confidence and the recently ratified contract with the waterfront workforce, providing stability for shippers. He anticipates a moderate rebound in cargo volume for the remainder of the year.

Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. emphasized their commitment to providing top-notch services and facilities while supporting labor and industry partners. This ensures merchants and consumers can have confidence in the port’s ability to deliver goods reliably, quickly, and sustainably throughout the upcoming holiday season.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association reached a tentative agreement on June 14, with ILWU dockworkers ratifying the six-year contract on August 31.

Although the Port has moved 5,822,666 TEUs in the first nine months of 2023, a 20.7% decrease compared to the same period last year, cargo volume remains consistent with pre-pandemic levels. This demonstrates the Port of Long Beach’s resilience, as it handled over 5.7 million TEUs through September 2019. However, during the third quarter of 2023, the port processed 10.5% fewer TEUs compared to the same period in 2022.

Inspired by: https://polb.com/port-info/news-and-press/strongest-september-on-record-at-port-of-long-beach-10-19-2023/