US import volumes at West Coast ports have rebounded following last year’s strikes and slowdowns. Figures from Datamyne show that imports through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach increased by 36 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in the first two months of 2016 compared with the same time period in 2015.
“West Coast ports have indeed made a comeback from the labour disputes and slowdowns that negatively impacted volumes in early 2015,” said Datamyne CEO Brendan McCahill.
“Combined, LA and Long Beach made up 39 per cent of all ocean imports to the US in January and February of this year, up 4 per cent over the same two months last year.”
The port of Oakland also saw a 52 per cent increase in import TEUs compared with January and February of 2015.
East and Gulf Coast ports did not see the same sweeping growth, however. Compared to January through February of last year, the port of New York/Newark recorded a 5 per cent rise in import volume, while Norfolk, VA was up 17 per cent and Houston declined 4 per cent. The port of Savannah, which looked to have prospered from the western slowdowns last year, has continued to grow by 9 per cent so far this year.
