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Port of Long Beach (POLB) saw its container volumes decrease slightly by 0.9% in September to 741,823 TEUs.

The Californian port said diminishing consumer demand, full warehouses and inflation concerns led to the decline.

According to the port’s data, imports decreased by 7.4% to 342,671 TEUs, exports increased by 1.9% to 112,940 TEUs, while empty containers moved through the port rose 7% to 286,212 TEUs.

Meanwhile, the major US container port has moved more than 7.3 million TEUs during the first nine months of the year, representing a growth of 3.5% from the same period in 2021.

“Consumers and retailers are concerned about inflation, leading to warehouses filled with inventory and fewer product orders from Asia,” said POLB executive director, Mario Cordero, adding, “The respite is leading to increased capacity on the docks and fewer ships waiting off the coast to enter the Port.”

Source: Container News

The Long Beach Harbor Commission has approved a critical channel deepening project that is expected to ease cargo movement to and from the United States. The Port of Long Beach (POLB) and the federal government will share the costs, estimated at almost US$170 million, with the POLB’s portion being estimated at US$109 million.

“By improving navigation in Long Beach Harbor, goods will speed faster around the supply chain, yielding enormous economic benefits for our city, region, and the nation,” said Harbor Commission president, Sharon L. Weissman, adding that “At the same time, it will make operations safer and help lessen environmental impacts on our community.”

Among other features, the project includes deepening the Long Beach Approach Channel from 76 feet to 80 feet deep, easing turning bends in the Main Channel to deepen a wider area to 76 feet, deepening parts of the West Basin from 50 to 55 feet, constructing an approach channel and turning basin to Pier J South with a depth of 55 feet, improving the breakwaters at the entrance to Pier J, and depositing dredged material in nearshore sites for refuse or in federally approved ocean disposal sites.

“Deepening and improving our waterways will give these vessels more room to maneuver, and to do so more efficiently by taking on more containers, reducing the number of ship calls and associated emissions,” commented Port of Long Beach executive director, Mario Cordero.

Last October, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded a multi-year federal study that showed deepening and widening channels in the harbor would lead to improved vessel navigation, safety, and national economic benefits of almost US$21 million annually.

Source: Container News

California’s major port in Long Beach has reported its busiest February in its history, moving 796,560 TEU, which translates to a 3.2% increase compared to the same month last year.

February’s imports at the Port of Long Beach (POLB) grew by 4.4% reaching 390,335 TEU, while the port’s exports declined 1.2% to 117,935 TEU. At the same time, empty boxes moved through the port were up 3.5% to 288,290 TEU.

“We are moving record amounts of cargo and catching up with the ongoing surge of imports,” said POLB executive director Mario Cordero, who added, “Meanwhile, we are proceeding with measures we will need in the long term, such as development of our Supply Chain Information Highway data solution, which provides greater cargo visibility, connectivity and predictability.”

Long Beach harbor commission president, Steven Neal commented, “New records continue to be set by our hardworking workforce. We are collaborating with our industry partners to keep the supply chain moving as efficiently as possible.”

This record performance was achieved despite the fact that trade typically slows in February as east Asian factories close for up to two weeks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, pointed out the US port in its statement.

“Economic activity is anticipated to rebound after inflation cut into consumer spending during the first quarter of 2022, but it remains unclear how the war in Ukraine will affect the economy and financial markets,” noted the Port of Long Beach, which added that consumers are purchasing fewer goods and spending more on dining out, entertainment and other services due to the decline in Covid-19 cases.

Source: Container News