Trade rises at Port of Long Beach in February

Cooling inflation, rising consumer confidence and an ongoing effort to recapture market share boosted cargo shipments moving through the Port of Long Beach in February.

Dockworkers and terminal operators moved 674,723 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 24.1% from February 2023. Imports were up 29.4% to 329,850 TEUs and exports declined 21.1% to 87,474 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port increased 44.8% to 257,400 TEUs.

“Our top-notch customer service and ongoing efforts to attract business back to the West Coast are paying off,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero. “We continue to invest in infrastructure projects that will keep us competitive and sustainable for decades to come.”

“Our highly skilled workforce has helped us achieve year-over-year increases in cargo for the last six months,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bobby Olvera Jr. “Customers are taking notice that our infrastructure projects and environmental programs make us the Port of Choice.”

The Port has moved 1,348,738 TEUs during the first two months of 2024, a 20.7% increase 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 $2.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.