POLA and POLB post strong July volume numbers

At a time when good news is definitely needed, the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) brought some, with their July volume result, which were issued this week.

Total POLA volume—at 856,389 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU)—represented the busiest month, year-to-date, for the port, as well as being the second best July for POLA on record. Even so, it was down 6.1% annually, with July 2019 the highest July in the port’s history.

Imports, at 456,029 TEU, were down 4.3%, and exports, at 126,354 TEU, dipped 27.1%. Empty containers fell 0.1%, to 274,007 TEU. On a year-to-date basis through July, POLA volumes are off 15.3% annually, at 4,618,278 TEU.

“Fewer canceled sailings and 11 additional ‘ad hoc’ or unscheduled ship calls helped drive both imports and exports higher than recent months but still short of last July’s all-time record,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in a statement. “Preliminary data for August indicates solid volumes as retailers continue restocking inventories and preparing for the year-end holiday season.”

Total July POLB volume—at 753,081 TEU—marking the busiest month in for the port in its 109 years of operation, beating a previous record set in 2018, and marking a 21.1% annual increase.

Imports were up 20.3%, to 376,807 TEU, and exports were up 24.1%, to 136,602 TEU. Empty containers rose 20.8%, to 237,672 TEU.

On a year-to-date basis through July, POLA volume is off 2.8% annually, at 4,186,115 TEU.

“Supply chain workers at the Port of Long Beach expertly handled a welcome surge in cargo that was brought on due to pent-up demand by consumers,” said Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, in a statement. “It was a good month, a bright spot, in the midst of the devastating effects of the coronavirus on the economy.”