Port Reports Highest Volume in History

CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin was the first megaship to arrive in the Port of Long Beach.

LOS ANGELES—The Port of Long Beach welcomes the largest ship to enter North America to its port, catapulting cargo volume to record highs. During the month of February, the port raked in 561,412 TEUs, a 35.9% year-over-year increase in cargo volume and the highest recorded volume in the port’s 105-year history. With the ability to accommodate megaships, the port expects cargo volume to continue its upward trajectory.

The Port of Long Beach is experiencing strong growth thanks to the port’s value proposition,” Jon Slangerup, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, tells GlobeSt.com. “We offer the shortest, most cost-effective route between Asia and North America. We offer world-class facilities and service with robust rail and roadway connections. As the economy improves, shippers continue to come to the Port of Long Beach. Our outlook for 2016 is about 4 to 5 percent growth for the year, and that will be a very strong year, considering that we moved 7.2 million TEUs in 2015. We are back to pre-recession levels of cargo traffic at the Port of Long Beach, and expecting a record-breaking 2016.”