PORT OF LOS ANGELES ECLIPSES 2 MILLION TEUs FOR RECORD 1ST QUARTER;
MARCH VOLUMES AT 612,863 TEUs

Overall Cargo Volumes Up 11.3 Percent in First Three Months of 2016

SAN PEDRO, Calif. - April 12, 2016 - The Port of Los Angeles recorded its busiest 1st quarter in its 109-year history, handling more than 2 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during the first three months of 2016.  Overall volumes of 2,030,982 TEUs at the Port have increased 11.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to last year.

“Our first quarter growth is significant and encouraging,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “The feedback we are receiving from cargo owners and exporters is that the Port is delivering on speed, efficiency, cost and service. Our terminal operators and supply chain partners are working with us to continuously improve and optimize operations.”

The two largest container vessels currently calling North America, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin and the Maersk Edmonton, are scheduled to return to the Port of Los Angeles concurrently next week as the Port of Los Angeles continues to successfully handle megaships and move larger container volumes per ship call.

Total March 2016 volumes registered at 612,863 TEUs. It was a drop of 22.6 percent compared to March 2015, when volumes surged after congestion issues were resolved. March 2016 imports decreased 33.3 percent to 287,231 TEUs compared to the previous year. Exports increased 9.5 percent to 159,362 TEUs in March. Empty container traffic dropped 22.8 percent to 166,269 TEUs. Combined, March overall volumes totaled 612,863 TEUs.

Current and past data container counts for the Port of Los Angeles may be found at: /maritime/stats.asp