Port of Long Beach Sees Lower August Volumes

US Port of Long Beach (POLB) recorded an 8.9 percent decrease in its container throughput in August 2016, handling 641,029 TEUs against 703,652 TEUs in the same month last year.

Of those, 321,625 TEUs were import containers, which were down 10.2 percent, compared to 358,262 TEUs in August 2015.

August exports stood at 159,247 TEUs, against 138,765 TEUs in the same month in 2015, surging 14.8 percent.

“Currently, shipping lines are continuing to consolidate service routes to optimize vessel utilization during the holiday peak season and in anticipation of the new, planned ocean carrier alliances,” according to POLB.

The port said its August throughput was not affected by Hanjin’s filing for court receivership on August 31, 2016.

For the calendar year, overall cargo volumes are down 2.9 percent at POLB, compared to the first eight months of 2015.

With an ongoing USD 4 billion program to modernize its facilities this decade, POLB is building the Port of the Future by investing in capital and service improvements including the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge and the development of the Middle Harbor terminal.

Last week, the port’s CEO, Jon Slangerup, revealed its plans to resign from this position, effective October 31, 2016.