LA, Long Beach report strong container volumes in April

   The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have reported strong growth in container volumes in April.
   The Port of Los Angeles said container volumes in April were 706,037 TEU, an increase of 10.26 percent. Loaded inbound container volume was up 11.43 percent to 364,126 TEU, while loaded outbound containers was 172,945 TEU.
   The Port of Long Beach handled 569,843 TEU in April, 9.7-percent more than April 2013.
   “Following a slow March due to the harsh winter in other parts of the country, April container volumes rebounded as weather patterns and shopping patterns returned to normal,” Long Beach officials said.
   Imports numbered 295,712 TEU, up 11.9 percent from April 2013. Exports jumped 6.3 percent to 146,498 TEU.
   In a research note, Kevin Sterling of BB&T Capital Markets, said, “While some of April’s strength may be carry-over from March because of the lingering winter, we believe the marked improvement we saw in April is more reflective of improving core trends than a thaw from winter.”
   He also noted that handling volumes at China’s 10 busiest container ports grew more than 7 percent in April from a year earlier, accelerating from a
6.5-percent growth rate the previous month, according to preliminary data compiled by data provider Chineseport.
   It is also possible that volumes reflect the fact that some shippers are moving product in advance of the contract talks for longshoremen who work at West Coast Ports. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and employers began negotiating on Monday on a new contract to replace the current pact that expires on July 1.