LONG BEACH PORT SEES UNCHANGED IMPORTS, LOWER EXPORTS IN APRIL

LONG BEACH PORT SEES UNCHANGED IMPORTS, LOWER EXPORTS IN APRIL    Containerized imports increased slightly while exports fell in April at shipping terminals at the Port of Long Beach.
   The number of inbound containers in April was 202,575 TEUs, 0.9 percent more than in April 2000. The port’s leading inbound cargoes include clothing, toys, shoes and other household goods made in Asia.
   The number of exported containers fell in April to 76,624 TEUs, a 15.8 percent decline from a year ago.
   “April was the sixth consecutive month in which the number of outbound containers fell in comparison to the outbound total for the same month a year ago,” the port said.
   Exports shipped through Long Beach include raw materials destined for Asia such as plastics, chemicals, cotton and recycled paper.
   Total container traffic in April was 366,528 TEUs, nearly identical to the total of 366,465 TEUs for April 2000.
   With a widening gap in inbound and outbound containers, the number of empties, most headed for Asia, increased 16.9 percent in April, to 87,329 TEUs.