Port of Long Beach posts 3.4% increase in box volumes

The Southern California port attributed the 3.4 percent year-over-year increase in container volumes in June to rising imports, which jumped 5.5 percent year-over-year.    The Port of Long Beach handled 603,339 TEUs in June, a 3.4 percent increase from June 2015.
   The port attributed the increase to rising imports, which rose 5.5 percent year-over-year to 313,526 TEUs.
   Export volumes, which were flat for the month, totaled 128,099 TEUs, a 0.1 percent decline from June 2015. Empties edged up 2.2 percent year-over-year to 161,714 TEUs.
   “Our improving cargo volumes reflect the confidence that customers continue to have in the Port of Long Beach. This is an encouraging sign despite soft consumer demand, high inventory levels and an evolving maritime industry as shipping lines continue to consolidate vessel services,” Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup said.
   However, on a year-to-date basis, total volumes fell 0.6 percent compared to the first six months of 2015.
   Overall, the Port of Long Beach is frequented by 18 fully cellular container services that connect the port to other regions outside the U.S. West Coast, according to data from ocean carrier schedule and capacity database BlueWater Reporting’s Port Dashboard tool. Of these 18 loops, 11 connect the port with Asia.