Port of Long Beach reports strong November container volumes

The West Coast seaport posted a cargo throughput of 619,699 TEUs for November and 6.6 million TEUs for the first 11 months of 2015.    The Port of Long Beach posted a container throughput of 619,699 TEUs for the month of November, a 6.6 percent increase from November 2014, which represents the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year increases at the port.
   November imports totaled 306,654 TEUs, a 4.3 percent increase from last November, according to the Port of Long Beach. The 4.0 percent year-over-year decline in exports to 124,717 TEUs during the month resulted from the strong U.S. dollar. Empties totaled 188,328 TEUs, a 19.5 percent increase from November 2014.
   Strong cargo numbers were fueled by upcoming post-holiday sales planned by retailers throughout the country. Retailers aggressively stocked their shelves a few months ago and are now shipping the empty containers back overseas to import more goods.
   Overall, for the first 11 months of 2015, the Port of Long Beach handled 6.6 million TEUs of cargo, a year-over-year increase of 5.5 percent.
   “Thanks to our industry partners, we have had consistent gains throughout 2015 and are on track to move more than 7 million TEUs this year,” Port of Long Beach CEO Jon Slangerup said in a statement. “Retailers have reported a modest but healthy holiday season, which keeps us busy and the economy growing.”
   The Port of Long Beach, which is the second-busiest container port in the United States, features a total of six container terminals.