The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach reported ups and downs in January with LA up 5.8 per cent to 698,715 TEU year on year while LB declined 3.9 per cent to 4,56,424 TEU with a combined uptick of one per cent at 1.15 million TEU.

Long Beach’s relative decline is attributed to last year’s move to LA of Hyundai Merchant Marine and its port operator, California United Terminals. This trade represented 10 per cent of LB’s box traffic.

LA imports increased 5.3 per cent to 356,394 TEU, while exports were up 5.9 per cent to 168,427 TEU, reported American Shipper. Long Beach imports declined 5.5 per cent to 229,125 TEU while exports fell 8.2 per cent to 117,083 TEU.

“Import volumes at the port typically pick up leading up to the Chinese New Year, as US retailers stock up their shelves in anticipation of the holidays in Asia when most factories close down for a week or more,” said the Long Beach statement. “Exports of raw materials to China slowed down. Chinese New Year was January 23. The decline in imports reflects caution in the retail sector.”

Los Angeles said January set an import and export record for the month.

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