Port of Los Angeles finishes 2023 with five months of year-over-year growth

The Port of Los Angeles closed out 2023 on a strong note, processing 747,335 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units, 2.5% more than last year. It was the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year gains.

The Port finished 2023 handling 8,634,497 TEUs, about 13% less than the prior year. Trade declined in most categories at ports worldwide yet the Port of Los Angeles retained its position as the nation’s busiest container port for the 24th consecutive year.

“In 2024, our sights are set on community investment, sustainability progress and capturing additional market share,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “To drive cargo, we’re investing in a 10-year, $2 billion capital improvement program. We’ll also focus on secure technology enhancements to improve efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint. All that leads to additional jobs and the Port’s ability to re-invest more dollars back into our communities.”

Last week, Seroka outlined the Port’s priorities for this year. Watch the 9th Annual State of the Port address here.

December 2023 loaded imports landed at 369,477 TEUs, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. Loaded exports came in at 121,575 TEUs, an increase of 26% compared to 2022. Empty containers totaled 256,283 TEUs, an 8.5% decrease compared to last year.

Current and historical cargo data, including fiscal year-end totals, are available here.

The busiest seaport in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles is North America’s leading trade gateway and has ranked as the No. 1 container port in the United States for 23 consecutive years. In 2022, the Port facilitated $311 billion in trade and handled a total of 9.9 million container units, the second busiest calendar year in the Port’s 116-year history. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.