February another record month at the Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles processed 857,764 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in February, a 7.3% increase compared to last year. It was the Port’s busiest February in its 115-year history and represents back-to-back record months to begin 2022.

“The combined efforts of dock workers, terminal operators and our waterfront partners have improved fluidity and productivity,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Since November, we’ve been able to increase the number of containers leaving our docks by 16%.

“We’re taking advantage of the temporary lull in ship arrivals due to the Lunar New Year production slowdown in Asia to prepare for another wave of imports,” Seroka added. “We expect an increase in those vessel arrivals soon as retailers begin to replenish their low inventories.”

Seroka announced the February data during a virtual media briefing, where he was joined by Dee Dee Meyers, Director of the California Governor’s Office of Budget and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Myers outlined Gov. Gavin Newsom’s planned record investment of $2.3 billion for California ports in the upcoming budget.

February 2022 loaded imports reached 424,073 TEUs compared to the previous year, an increase of 2.7%. Loaded exports came in at 95,441 TEUs, a 5.7% decrease compared to the same period last year. Exports have now declined 36 of the last 40 months in Los Angeles.

Empty containers climbed to 338,251 TEUs, a jump of 18.6% compared to last year due to the continued heavy demand in Asia.

Two months into 2022, overall cargo volume has reached 1,723,360 TEUs, a 5.4% increase compared to 2021.