Southern California ports' container volumes accelerated in April

Following a slow March hampered by the end of a harsh winter, the Port of Long Beach registered a strong April, with container volumes rebounding as weather and shopping patterns returned to normal.
 
The Southern California port handled a total of 569,843 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in April, up 9.7 percent compared with April 2013 volume. Imports climbed 11.9 percent to 295,712 TEUs, exports increased 6.3 percent to 146,498 TEUs and empty container volume rose 8.8 percent to 127,633 TEUs.

After a weak first quarter, the port's overall volume through 2014's first four months ratcheted up 1 percent year over year.

Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles in April registered 706,037 TEUs, up 10.3 percent compared with April 2013 container volume. Imports jumped 11.4 percent to 364,126 TEUs, exports rose 8 percent to 172,945 TEUs, total loaded volume climbed 10.3 percent to 537,071 TEUs and empties increased 10.1 percent to 168,965 TEUs.

Through the year's first four months, the port's total volume rose 8.2 percent year over year to 2,626,647 TEUs.