July imports at the Port of Los Angeles climbed 5 percent compared to the previous year. Overall cargo volumes in July slipped 1.6%, mostly due to a decline in the shipment of empty containers. For the first seven months of 2016, year-to-date volumes have increased 4.75 percent compared to 2015.
“As retailers prepare for consumer needs during the holiday season, we’re encouraged to see import volumes increase,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We are prepared along with our supply chain stakeholders to handle cargo with speed, efficiency and first-class service as we kick off our traditional busy season.”
In July, loaded imports increased 5.15 percent to 368,696 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units ( TEUs) compared to last July. Loaded exports dropped 2.87 percent to 132,490 TEUs. Combined, total loaded volumes grew 2.9 percent to 501,186 TEUs. With a decrease in empty containers of 11.9 percent, overall July volumes were 687,891 TEUs, a decrease of 1.6 percent compared to June 2015.
Year to date, overall cargo volumes have increased 4.75 percent to 4,821,467 TEUs.