The Port of Long Beach posted its second-busiest October on record last month, processing 789,716 TEUs, according to newly-released data.
That’s 2.1% down from October 2020, the port’s busiest-ever October. Long Beach saw imports drop 4.3% to 385,000 TEUs, which officials attribute to limited space at terminals.
Meanwhile, exports rose 6.6% to 122,214 TEUs and empty containers fell 2.4% to 282,502 TEUs.
“Every sector of the supply chain has reached capacity and it is time for all of us to step up and get these goods delivered,” port Executive Director Mario Cordero said. “In Long Beach, we are trying to add capacity by searching for vacant land to store containers, expanding the hours of operation at terminals, and implementing a fee that will incentivize ocean carriers to pull their containers out of the port as soon as possible.”
To help move cargo along and create more capacity, Long Beach has been partnering with supply chain stakeholders toward a 24-7 operation and approving a fee targeting ocean carriers whose import containers overstay at terminals.
“We are working around the clock at the port,” Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal said. “We’re doing everything we can with help from the supply chain to get goods off the ships and onto store shelves in time for the holidays.”
