Port of Long Beach Cargo volumes climb in April

Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach gained momentum in April, marking the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year cargo growth at the nation’s second-busiest seaport.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 750,424 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 14.4% from April 2023. Imports rose 16.3% to 364,665 TEUs and exports declined 19.9% to 98,266 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port increased 30.7% to 287,493 TEUs.

"Imports are steadily climbing as we continue to work with industry partners to rebuild our market share," said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. "We are strengthening our competitiveness with our brand of operational excellence, customer service and ongoing infrastructure investments that will keep cargo moving efficiently well into the future."

“Our highly skilled workforce and terminal operators continue to raise the bar on growing cargo volumes safely and sustainably,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “Our collaboration with labor and industry makes us the Port of Choice.”

The Port has moved 2,753,244 TEUs through the first four months of 2024, up 15.8% from the same period in 2023.

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 2023, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the fifth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.3 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.