Port of Los Angeles volumes slip in July despite increased imports

Import cargo volumes at the Southern California port grew 5 percent in July 2016 compared with the same 2015 period, but overall cargo volumes slipped 1.6 percent year-over-year due to an almost 12 percent drop in empty container shipments.    Overall cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles slipped 1.6 percent to 687,892 TEUs in July 2016, according to recent data from the port authority.
   The July throughput decline at the Southern California port came despite a 5.2 percent year-over-year increase in loaded imports to 368,696 TEUs. Loaded exports for the month totaled 132,490 TEUs, a 2.9 percent decrease from July 2015.
   Combined, total loaded volumes grew 2.9 percent to 501,186 TEUs compared with the previous year, but were offset by an 11.9 percent drop in empty container shipments to 186,704 TEUs.
   In the first seven months of 2016, overall cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles have grown 4.8 percent to 4.8 million TEUs compared with the same 2015 period.
   “As retailers prepare for consumer needs during the holiday season, we’re encouraged to see import volumes increase,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said of the July throughput figures. “We are prepared along with our supply chain stakeholders to handle cargo with speed, efficiency and first-class service as we kick off our traditional busy season.”