Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles rose 2% year over year to 742,519 total TEUs in December, marking five months of consecutive growth at the port. Los Angeles also ended the year as the country’s top container port, according to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.
“Bringing back cargo and the related jobs is our big priority,” Seroka said during a "State of the Port" address on Jan. 10. “That’s why we are pleased to see a 3% bump in our West Coast market share compared to East and Gulf Coast ports.”
Despite the increase in volumes YoY for December, the port as a whole processed less cargo in 2023 compared to 2022 levels, representing a 13% decline at 8.6 million container units, Seroka said.
Exports saw the most volume growth, up more than 7% YoY since 2020.
West Coast ports have faced years of operational disruptions since the onset of the pandemic, including container shortages, port congestion and contentious labor negotiations. Now, cargo activity is experiencing a rebound in Los Angeles.
“The good news is that global trade is now edging up and we are looking forward to a return to more normal cargo volume levels in the year ahead,” Seroka said.
The port is working on several infrastructure projects to support further growth, such as the $73 million Pier 400 Corridor Storage Tracks expansion to accommodate future rail volumes on Terminal Island. There is also the $234 million Terminal Island Maritime Support Facility Project, intended to serve as a full-service chassis depot, providing storage, maintenance and chassis and empty container repair.
