Keeping on theme with 2017 trends, the Port of Long Beach has surpassed 2016 cargo volumes in the first 11 months of the year. As of November, more than 6.8 million containers moved through the port. In 2016, 6.78 million containers moved through the port for the full year. The Port of Long Beach expects to move more than 7 million containers this year. The port has consistently seen record-breaking volume numbers each month.

“One major thing to look at is the fact that with record volume for Long Beach this year, we have not seen congestion or back-ups or any of those types of issues,” Lee Peterson of the Port of Long Beach, tells GlobeSt.com. “This shows us that the terminals and the supply chain are functioning very well, in a dynamic environment. Remember, it was just April 2017 that the new ocean carrier alliances were introduced.”

Hitting the 7 million containers mark in cargo volume has only happened four times in the port's 106-year history. In 2015, the port hit that market, moving 7.2 million containers. This year, Peterson says that the port will likely surpass those numbers. “In e expect that we will move past 2015, which was nearly 7.2 million TEUs and the third best year for us ever. We could have a year as busy as 2007, which was about 7.3 million TEUs,” he says. “We will have to see what happens in December. This is happening because of the increase in global shipping, which has brought more trade Long Beach.”

In November alone, 612,659 twenty-foot equivalent units moved through the port, a 14.7% increase over November of 2016. This year, the port has seen many similar year-over-year increases. “The major driver is that the country and its businesses are busier than ever in importing and exporting goods,” says Peterson. “Nationwide, there is an increase in trade, and the Port of Long Beach, as a major U.S. seaport, is seeing a good portion of that trade.”

Next year, activity should remain strong, although Peterson is more measured in his outlook. “For 2018, we are cautiously optimistic, we expect to see increases but it's too soon to tell if those will be sustained year around,” he explains. “Some organizations have predicted a busy first half followed by a slower second half in 2018.”

Instant Insights /

Port Beats 2016 Cargo Volumes in 11Months

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