The Port of Long Beach posted a record July for cargo volumes last month, according to new numbers released this week.
Long Beach handled 784,845 TEUs last month, 4.2% more than July 2020, the port’s previous record holder for its best July, with 753,081 TEUs.
The port also moved 382,940 TEUs in imports, 1.6% more than July 2020. Meanwhile, the port handled 109,951 TEUs in exports, 20.7% less than the same time last year.
Empty containers last month jumped 22.8%, to 291,955 TEUs, according to port data.
In 12 of the past 13 months, the port has surpassed record cargo volumes, data show. So far in 2021, the port has handled more than 5.5 million TEUs, a 32.3% jump from the same time last year. Officials are attributing the record numbers to ongoing consumer demand.
“Ships arrived last month to move these empty containers out of the harbor and clear valuable terminal space as we handle historic amounts of trade,” said port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “These boxes are a valuable commodity in the overstressed global supply chain. Our loaded exports are likely to rebound this month.”
