Long Beach container volumes grew 1.3 percent in 2014

Port says its third busiest year ever is the result of growth in exports, empty containers.    The Port of Long Beach said its container terminals handled 6.8 million TEUs in 2014, 1.3 percent more than in 2013. It was the third busiest year ever for the port, behind 2006 and 2007.
   Imports increased 1.8 percent to 3.5 million TEUs, while exports declined 5.9 percent to 1.6 million TEUs. The number of empty containers rose 8.2 percent to 1.7 million.
   In December 2014, the port moved 567,237 TEUs through the harbor, a 2.6 percent decrease compared to December 2013. Imports dropped 5.1 percent to 276,516 TEUs. Exports fell 11.2 percent to 131,496 TEUs. Empties rose to 159,225 TEUs, an increase of 11.5 percent.