AUGUST CARGO VOLUME EXCEEDS 954,000 TEUS AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES
Year-to-Date Growth at 30% as Import Surge Continues
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Sept. 15, 2021 – Strong American consumer demand has continued unabated for more than a year, evidenced by the steady amount of cargo streaming through the Port of Los Angeles. In August, the Port processed 954,377 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), just shy of last August’s record of 961,833 TEUs.
Eight months into the 2021 calendar year, overall cargo volume is 7,273,053 TEUs, an increase of 30% compared to 2020.
“Our Port Optimizer™ data indicates significant volume headed our way throughout this year and into 2022,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “Port-related employment is robust, with longshore shifts up 32% compared to last year.
“To better manage this record cargo, the Port of Los Angeles is co-hosting roundtable discussions with dozens of public and private stakeholders,” Seroka added. “We’re pursuing short- and longer-term strategies with our partners in order to scale up to meet increased demand.”
August 2021 loaded imports reached 485,672 TEUs, a decrease of 6% compared to the previous year, when American retailers ramped up orders to restock low inventory. Loaded exports decreased 23% to 101,292 TEUs compared to the same period last year.
Empty containers climbed to 367,413 TEUs, a jump of 17% compared to last year due to the continued demand in Asia. It was the highest number of empty containers the Port has handled in a single month, eclipsing the 361,359 TEUs processed in May 2021.
Current and historical cargo data is available here.