POLA and POLB volumes are mixed in March

March volumes at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) were mixed, according to data issued by the ports this week.

POLA handled 650,977 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), marking a 12.7% annual gain, with total first quarter volume up 4.6% for the same period at 2,208,733 TEU. Imports rose 12.4% to 297,187 TEU, and exports fell 2.9% to 158,924 TEU. Empty containers saw a 30.2% gain to 194,866 TEU. 

“Despite global trade uncertainties, we experienced strong first quarter growth,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in a statement. “I commend our supply chain stakeholders who have processed record amounts of cargo in recent months and we anticipate greater efficiency improvement with the PortOptimizer™ that was rolled out in the first quarter. Retailers are forecasting an uptick in summer consumer demand and we are ready for those boxes.”

POLB volume in March, at 552,821 TEU, fell 3.9% annually. Imports, at 247,039 TEU, were off 7.8%, and exports, at 131,436 TEU, saw a 7.7% decrease. Empty containers, at 174,346 TEU, headed up 5.7%.

Total first quarter volume, at 1,806,723 TEU, were down 4.7%. Even with the decline, port officials said this marked the second-busiest first quarter in the port’s history.

“With warehouses full from shippers rushing to beat the looming threat of escalating tariffs, shipments slowed somewhat,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero in a statement. “It’s going to take some time for inventory to cycle to markets and for typical growth to resume.”