July volumes mixed at L.A. ports; first-half volumes rise at Vancouver port

The Port of Long Beach, Calif., in July handled 583,060 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the port's highest July volume since 2010. On a year-over-year basis, volume rose 3.7 percent.

Imports inched up 0.9 percent to 297,615 TEUs, exports declined 6.2 percent to 124,126 TEUs and the volume of empty containers climbed 19.5 percent to 161,319 TEUs.
 
"The relatively flat import numbers in July came after a surge in June, when retailers were stocking up for back-to-school shopping," port officials said in a press release. "Through the first seven months of 2014, container cargo traffic is up 2.7 percent, showing the economy is continuing to grow."

The Port of Los Angeles in July registered 717,407 TEUs, which was relatively flat — up only 0.2 percent — compared with July 2013 volume.

Imports dropped 2 percent to 363,393 TEUs, exports rose 3.6 percent to 163,294 TEUs, total loaded container volume dipped 0.3 percent to 526,688 TEUs and empties increased 1.8 percent to 190,719 TEUs.

Through 2014's first seven months, the port logged 4,769,635 TEUs, up 7.8 percent compared with the same 2013 period.

Meanwhile, the Port of Vancouver USA significantly boosted volumes in four commodity groups in the year's first half.

The number of wind energy components shot up 6,500 percent from 158 to 10,435, volume of grain soared 92 percent from 1,258,203 tons to 2,240,708 tons, amount of steel jumped 26 percent from 55,785 tons to 70,364 tons and number of automobiles climbed 24 percent from 31,929 to 39,566 compared with first-half 2013 figures.

"We're seeing a good variety of products moving through the port, and we’re also welcoming some new customers – all signs that reflect an improving economy," port officials said in a press release.