The Port of Long Beach handled 806,603 twenty-foot equivalent units in October, the highest monthly throughput in port history, up 17.2% from the year-ago month, the port said Nov. 12.
October volumes at the port are up just over 11,000 TEUs from September, which previously held the record for highest throughput, it said in a statement.
The cargo surge comes on the back of year-end festive season demand, as retailers stock up and consumers continue to lean towards e-commerce and home goods.
"The peak holiday shipping season is supporting our ongoing recovery and record highs" said port Executive Director Mario Cordero.
In October, loaded imports grew 19.4% on year to 402,408 TEUs. At the same time, exports fell 12.9% to 114,679 TEUs, a number reflective of ongoing trade tensions between the US and its main trading partner, China.
However, empty containers being sent to Asia grew to 289,517 TEUs. A 31.8% increase on year, this number shows the efforts made by shippers and carriers alike to reposition boxes to Asia, to relieve the longstanding equipment shortages that have plagued Asian exporters in recent months.
The port handled just over 6.5 million TEUs in the first 10 months of 2020, up 2.3% from the same time last year. The port of Long Beach is the second busiest port in North America, behind the adjacent Port of Los Angeles.
Platts Container Rate 13 — North Asia to West Coast North America —remained steady Nov. 12 at $3,750/FEU.
