Port of LA Has Its 2nd-Busiest April Ever

cargo containers
cargo containers
An aerial view of cargo containers arranged on a Port of Los Angeles terminal. Photo courtesy POLA.

Last month, the Port of Los Angeles recorded its second busiest April in history, processing 887,357 TEUs, according to new data released by the port this week.

The POLA’s busiest-ever April was last year when the port handled 946,966 TEUs.

Imports last month fell 6.8% to 456,670 TEUs year over year and loaded exports dropped 12.7% with 99,878 TEUs year over year, continuing the downward trend in exports in 38 of the last 42 months, according to the port. Empty containers, which are sent overseas to be refilled with goods, dipped 3.4% last month compared to April 2021 with 330,810 TEUs.

Still, the nation’s busiest seaport is ahead of last year’s cargo volumes. Los Angeles has moved more than 3.5 million since January, 1% more than the same time in 2021.

“We’ve had a remarkably strong start to the year and cargo continues to flow into Los Angeles despite some of the COVID lockdowns in China,” port Executive Director Gene Seroka said. “While there are impacts being seen from sub-assembly to manufacturing through delivery, transpacific trade has held steady.

Looking forward, Seroka said that while the port doesn’t anticipate any abrupt changes, the situation in China “may lead to a lull in volume with a fairly quick bounce back once the lockdowns end.”

By Karen Robes Meeks