The Port of Long Beach marked its busiest September on record as volumes returned to the port with a renewed labor contract in place and shippers geared up for holiday demand.
The San Pedro Bay seaport moved 829,429 TEUs last month, 11.8% more than it did last year. September was also the first time in 14 months the Port of Long Beach saw overall cargo increase, compared to the previous year, according to the press release.
“Consumer confidence is on the rise and shippers can rely on the Port of Choice now that we have a ratified contract in place with our waterfront workforce,” said Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero.
Ports nationwide have been dealing with lower volumes for well over a year, but some have started to see cargo trends recover in recent months. The Port of Los Angeles, for example, in August saw total volumes increase for the first time in 13 months.
However, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates predicted last month August was the peak for maritime cargo volumes, and that volumes may slow through the end of the year.
As for the Port of Long Beach, Cordero says the seaport expects a “moderate rebound in cargo volume through the end of the year.”
