IMPORTS DOWN, EXPORTS UP IN MARCH AT PORT OF LONG BEACH

IMPORTS DOWN, EXPORTS UP IN MARCH AT PORT OF LONG BEACH    The port of Long Beach reported mixed container traffic results for March, as exports continued to increase, but imports fell.
   Although imports were slowed by the Chinese New Year, exports climbed for a second consecutive month, and the total number of cargo containers shipped through the port of Long Beach in March dipped 4.6 percent, to 343,500 TEUs.
   The number of export containers in March rose to more than 87,800 TEUs, a 4.1 percent gain over March 2001. The February export total increased 10 percent over February 2001. The port’s consecutive monthly percentage increases were the first for exports since August 2000, the Californian port said.
   The port’s leading exports include factory equipment and raw materials such as plastics, cotton and recycled paper.
   The number of import containers fell 12.1 percent to more than 171,800 TEUs in March. The March decline contrasted with a sudden 30-percent jump in import traffic in February.
   “The Chinese New Year on Feb. 12 virtually shut down business in Asia during the middle of February, slowing import shipments to the port during the early part of March,” a spokesman for the port said.
   February’s large and sudden increase in import traffic at several U.S. West Coast ports had raised questions about whether a recovery of the high-volume Asia-to-North America trade would be sustained throughout the year.
   “We are encouraged by the increase in exports, but it is a little early to tell how strong an import year this will be,” said Richard D. Steinke, the port of Long Beach’s executive director, commenting on the March statistics.