The Port of Los Angeles recorded its busiest first quarter in its 109-year history, handling more than 2m TEUs during the first three months of 2016. Overall volumes reached 2,030,982 TEUs, an increase of 11.3 per cent on the first quarter of 2016 compared to last year.
“Our first quarter growth is significant and encouraging,” said Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka. “The feedback we are receiving from cargo owners and exporters is that the port is delivering on speed, efficiency, cost and service. Our terminal operators and supply chain partners are working with us to continuously improve and optimise operations.”
The two largest container vessels currently callingNorth America, the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin and the Maersk Edmonton, are scheduled to return to the Port of Los Angeles concurrently next week as the Port of Los Angeles continues to successfully handle megaships and move larger container volumes per ship call.
Throughput dipped in March, totalling 612,863 TEUs, a drop of 22.6 per cent compared to the year-earlier period, when volumes surged after congestion issues were resolved. March 2016 imports fell by 33.3 per cent to 287,231 TEUs compared to the previous year, while exports increased by 9.5 per cent to 159,362 TEUs.
