The Port of Los Angeles (Port of LA) recorded its busiest month ever in its 114-year history which was also the 10th consecutive month of year-on-year growth. 

In a statement, America's busiest container port said it processed 1,012,248 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in May, a jump of 74% compared to the same month last year.

Port of LA said it was the "busiest month ever in the port's 114-year history, the 10th consecutive month of year-over-year increases."

This is also the first time a Western Hemisphere port has handled more than 1 million TEUs in a month.

Just last week, the Port also set another Western Hemisphere record when it reported processing more than 10 million TEUs in a 12-month period that ends on June 30.

"May 2021 loaded imports reached 535,714 TEUs compared to the previous year, an increase of 75%. It was the most imports ever in one month at the Port, eclipsing the previous record of 516,286 set in August of 2020," the statement added.

Loaded exports increased 5.3% to 109,886 TEUs compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, empty containers climbed to 366,448 TEUs, a jump of 114% compared to last year due to the heavy demand in Asia.

It was the most empties ever processed in a month at the Port, it added.

"Five months into the year, overall cargo volume is 4,551,445 TEUs, an increase of 48.2% compared to 2020," Port of LA continued. 

The major North American gateway facilitated US$259 billion in trade during 2020.