IMPORT & EXPORT
Cargo-Container Volumes Surge at Local Ports
With contract negotiations still going on with West Coast longshore workers, apparel importers and retailers were pushing to land their goods before a potential work stoppage or port strike takes place.
In June, overall cargo-container volumes at the Port of Los Angeles spiked 14 percent over last year. Imports were up even more, at 16.5 percent, with 382,666 20-foot containers being unloaded at the docks in June compared with 328,324 containers during the same month last year.
Exports at the Port of Los Angeles rose 8.5 percent with 160,823 containers leaving the docks in June versus 148,203 containers last year.
The Port of Long Beach also saw a big jump in business. Cargo-container volume rose 8 percent in June compared with last year. With more than 610,000 containers moved last month, it was the busiest June since 2007, which was the busiest year for container cargo at Long Beach.
Meanwhile, negotiations between members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers from 29 West Coast ports and their employers resumed on July 11 after a three-day break. The two sides are negotiating a new six-year contract after the previous contract expired on July 1.
Dockworkers remain on the job while the contract negotiations between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association continue.
The uncertainty about whether port workers will stay on the job has caused a dramatic rise in cargo being brought in to the various ports.
June volumes at the nation’s ports tracked by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates show cargo-container traffic during the first half of this year will be up 6.7 percent over last year.
