The peak shipping season boosted the Port of Long Beach in August to its strongest month in its 113-year history as retailers moved cargo ahead of potential tariff increases and labour negotiations continued at seaports on the East and Gulf coasts.
Dockworkers and terminal operators in Long Beach moved 913,873 TEU in August, up 33.9% from the same month last year and surpassing the port’s previous all-time one-month record set in May 2021 by 6,657 TEU.
Imports jumped 40.4% from August 2023 to 456,868 TEU, exports rose 12% to 104,646 TEU and empty containers moved through the port increased 33.7% to 352,360 TEU. August also marked the second time the port has exceeded 900,000 TEU in a single month.
“Cargo diversions and concerns about upcoming tariffs are creating a busy peak season for us,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We’re prepared for the uptick in shipments and continued growth through the rest of the year with a dedicated waterfront workforce, modern infrastructure and plenty of capacity across our terminals.”
“The docks are bustling with record-setting activity as we continue to move cargo quickly, reliably and sustainably,” said Long Beach Harbour Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “As the premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port of Long Beach is delivering on its promise of outstanding service and facilitating the most efficient movement of goods across the supply chain.”
The port moved 6,087,875 TEU during the first eight months of 2024, up 21.9% from the same period last year. The port’s busiest years in terms of total throughput were 2021 and 2022 with 9.3 million TEU and 9.1 million TEU handled respectively.
Several terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach shut down on Friday after a truck carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned and caught fire.
The Port of Long Beach broke ground on the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility that is set to more than triple the port’s on-dock rail capacity by 2032.