Long Beach traffic growth slowed in March

Long Beach traffic growth slowed in March    The port of Long Beach saw its container traffic growth slow to 4 percent in March, whereas it experienced a 35-percent increase in February and a 58-percent jump in box traffic reported for January.
   In March, the total number of loaded and empty boxes that crossed the port’s docks increased to 466,010 TEUs, from 448,398 TEUs a year earlier. The figure for March was also below the traffic figures of January and February of this year.
   In March, inbound loaded traffic, the main volume driver of the port, declined 11 percent to 210,093 TEUs, when compared to the March 2004. Outbound loaded box volume in March rose 10 percent to 104,519 TEUs, while empty container traffic increased 28 percent to 151,407 TEUs.
   The neighboring port of Los Angeles, which recorded box volume growth of just 4 percent in January-February, has not yet published its March statistics.
   The early figures for this year do not include the peak season and may not reflect the overall trend for this year. The Pacific Maritime Association has forecast that U.S. West Coast ports will handle 14 percent more cargo this year.