US Ports Post Year-Over-Year Increases for February
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U.S. ports experienced overall increases in container volumes year-over-year in February to extend a strong start to the year.
The Port of Los Angeles reported processing 781,434 containers, a 60% improvement from 487,846 in 2023. This marked the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year growth at the port.
“Market confidence in our gateway is as strong as it’s ever been,” Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing. “We’ve got the world’s best longshore workforce eager to work with a long-term contract in place, and our current operational data indicates that cargo is flowing efficiently, with additional capacity available.”
Seroka expressed optimism his port is well-positioned moving into the second quarter with consumer spending and other economic indicators showing positive signs. The Port of Los Angeles has handled a total of 1,637,086 TEUs to date, a 35% increase from a year ago.
The Port of Long Beach reported that container volumes for the month increased 24.1% to 674,723 from 543,675. Port leaders credited cooling inflation, rising consumer confidence and an ongoing effort to recapture market share for the increase. It has seen container volumes for the first two months of the year rise 20.7% to 1,348,738.
Cordeo
“Our top-notch customer service and ongoing efforts to attract business back to the West Coast are paying off,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said. “We continue to invest in infrastructure projects that will keep us competitive and sustainable for decades to come.”
The Northwest Seaport Alliance noted that combined container volumes between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., increased 0.4% year-over-year to 226,603 from 225,747. The results were dragged down somewhat by a 0.5% decline in full international imports. The port also reported that total volumes for the year to date declined 0.2% to 437,887.
• Port of Oakland reported that container volumes climbed 18.8% year-over-year to 182,750 TEUs from 153,837. The port credited consumer spending remaining strong in Northern California for helping to bolster import volume. It also noted combined full TEUs are up 18.1% in the first two months of 2024.
“The trends we saw in previous months have continued in February,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes said. “Consumer demand remains strong in Northern California and Rocky Mountain states region for imports and in Asia for the region’s exports. We believe that cargo volume will continue to modestly grow for the rest of the year, reversing some of the declines we saw in 2022 and 2023.”
• Port Houston reported that volumes increased 20% year-over-year to 375,965 TEUs from 313,452. The facility noted it was the biggest month for container exports on record, having increased 25% year-over-year to 145,766 TEUs. Total container volume for the year increased 12% to 708,926.
Lynch
• Georgia Ports Authority said that container volumes increased 14.4% to 451,670 TEUs from 394,793, the second consecutive month of growth. Intermodal rail cargo helped GPA set a record in Savannah for the month. Rail volumes at the Mason Mega Rail Terminal ramped up to 46,890 containers, an increase of 39%.
“The region’s fast-growing population, and an increasing number of manufacturing and logistics operations are both factors in the long-term expansion of trade through Georgia,” GPA President Griff Lynch said. “GPA has made significant investments in rail infrastructure.”
• South Carolina Ports Authority reported that volumes increased 0.5% to 202,349 TEUs from 201,418. The port noted that the 11% year-over-year gain in loaded import TEUs shows signs of strength in the economy. SC Ports also reported one of the highest move counts ever on a single vessel with crews moving 4,474 containers on and off the ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Mount Olympus.
“Our bold infrastructure investments and stellar maritime workforce provide highly productive port service for our customers,” SC Ports President Barbara Melvin said. “We provide the speed, reliability and connectivity that our customers depend on to thrive.”
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey usually runs one month behind the other ports in releasing its numbers. In January, it experienced a 3.4% increase year-over-year in container volumes to 667,346 TEUs from 645,430.
The Port of Baltimore and Port of Virginia did not have their monthly numbers available at press time.
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