U.S. ports continued to report strong year-over-year gains for cargo handling in October.

Imports at the Port of Los Angeles last month totaled 462,740 20-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs. The port also handled 122,716 export containers and 319,570 empty containers in October.

U.S. ports reported strong results amid efforts in August to move cargo ahead of the holiday shipping season and a potential strike.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which account for roughly a third of all U.S. container imports, have seen a surge this summer.

The union representing East and Gulf coast dockworkers kicks off a two-day meeting Sept. 4 in New Jersey to discuss wage demands with port employers under the threat of a disruptive strike.

U.S. ports are reporting record gains for this time of year with volumes being boosted by school supplies and an earlier-than-normal peak shipping season.

The busiest port complex in the U.S. is churning through import volumes near the highs set during the pandemic despite worries about a cooling economy.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other officials visited the Port of Long Beach on July 18 to break ground on a $1.5 billion rail yard expansion project.

West Coast ports are closing out the first half of 2024 with strong trade volumes, boosted by an early peak season, solid consumer spending and threats of strikes at East and Gulf Coast ports.

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said April numbers will show trade flows coming to the U.S. West Coast are continuing to strengthen.