The Port of Long Beach has moved nearly 1 million TEUs in October, its busiest month in its 113-year history.
The port attributes this record to strong demand for holiday goods and delayed containership arrivals caused by a nearby traffic incident and fire that disrupted some terminal operations in late September.
In October, dockworkers and terminal operators handled 987,191 TEUs, up 30.7 per cent from the same month last year and 8 per cent more than the port’s previous all-time one-month record established just two months earlier in August 2024.
Imports increased 34.2 per cent to 487,563 TEUs, while exports increased 25.3 per cent to 112,845 TEUs. Empty containers carried via the port increased by 28.1 per cent to 386,782 TEUs.
October also saw the port’s sixth straight monthly year-over-year (YoY) tonnage rise.
Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, said: “We appreciate the hard work of our waterfront workforce and terminal operators as they continue to move cargo at a record-setting pace by moving nearly 1 million TEUs without congestion or backlogs.
“We anticipate a continued influx of cargo due to robust consumer demand, concerns about potential tariffs and ongoing labour negotiations at ports on the East and Gulf coasts.”
The port transported 7.90 million TEUs in the first 10 months of 2024, a 20.2 per cent increase over the same time previous year.
In September, demand for holiday-related items pushed the Port of Long Beach to its busiest month and quarter on record.