Trade Volumes Keep Port on Winning Streak

For the fourth month in a row, the Port of Long Beach has posted a record-breaking month. In October, the port had a 15% increase year-over-year in cargo volume, making it the busiest month in port history. July, August and September were also record-setting months at the port, and it is on track for 2017 to be the busiest year in the history of the port, surpassing 2015, a previously record-breaking year.

“Driving the increase in the cargo is a nationwide increase in retail and e-tail buying and marketing,” Lee Peterson of the Port of Long Beach tells GlobeSt.com. “We’re seeing the results of being able to service the overall trend. We’re really able to capture a big part of that increase in imports and that’s been very fortunate for us this year.”

October marks the end of the port’s peak season, when retailers are stocking for the holiday season. However, this year, the port has seen steady growth throughout the year. “We’re seeing a fairly steady rate of growth, given that it has been part of the very busy “peak season.” So that bump will reduce, but we still expect to see busy months ahead,” explains Peterson.