Port of Long Beach (POLB) said that adjusted trade routes, full warehouses and a shift in consumer spending to travel, entertainment and other experiences caused a significant drop in July container volumes.
The Californian port handled 578,249 TEUs last month, translating to a 26.4% decrease over the record July 2022. In particular, imports declined 27.9% to 271,086 TEUs, exports decreased 17.6% to 90,134 TEUs and empty boxes moving through the port were down 27.7% to 217,030 TEUs.
“I am confident we will see our numbers improve as we work with industry partners to rebuild our market share,” stated Port of Long Beach CEO, Mario Cordero, who went on to add, “Looking ahead in the near term however, we anticipate a modest ‘peak season’ for shipping as consumers spend a little less this year on back-to-school supplies and gifts through the holiday season.”
Long Beach Harbor Commission president, Bobby Olvera Jr. is optimistic and notes that the major US port is ready for a rebound in cargo volume.
POLB has moved 4,310,925 TEUs during the first seven months of 2023, down 25.6% from the same period last year. Cargo flows are now closer to pre-pandemic levels, when the Port of Long Beach moved 4.3 million TEUs through the first seven months of 2019.