Cargo volume dips in July at Port of Long Beach

Trade dipped at the Port of Long Beach in July due to adjusted trade routes, full warehouses, and a shift in consumer spending to travel, entertainment, and other experiences.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 578,249 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, down 26.4% from July 2022, which was the Port’s busiest July on record. Imports declined 27.9% to 271,086 TEUs, while exports decreased 17.6% to 90,134 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port were down 27.7% to 217,030 TEUs.

“I am confident we will see our numbers improve as we work with industry partners to rebuild our market share,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “Looking ahead in the near term, however, we anticipate a modest ‘peak season’ for shipping as consumers spend a little less this year on back-to-school supplies and gifts through the holiday season.”

“Our facilities, longshore labor, marine terminal operators, and all of our industry partners continue to make this the premier gateway for trans-Pacific goods movement,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “We are ready for a rebound in cargo volume based on our ability to move cargo reliably, quickly and sustainably.”

The Port has moved 4,310,925 TEUs during the first seven months of 2023, down 25.6% from the same period last year. Cargo flows are now closer to pre-pandemic levels when the Port of Long Beach moved 4.3 million TEUs through the first seven months of 2019.

For complete cargo numbers, visit polb.com/statistics.

The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed, and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California. In 2022, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the fourth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness, and sustainability.