The Port of Long Beach said it reached its busiest March and its "most active" quarter on record as long-dwelling cargo continued to move out of its marine terminals.

In a statement, the port said it moved 863,156 twenty-foot equivalent units  (TEUs) of container cargo last month, up 2.7% from the previous record set in March 2021.

Imports increased 4.7% to 427,280 TEUs, while exports declined 18.3% to 114,185 TEUs.

Meanwhile, empty containers moved through the port jumped 10% to 321,691 TEUs.

"Imports are on the rise as we continue to clear the line of ships waiting to enter our Port and move containers off the docks," said Mario Cordero,  Port of Long Beach executive director.

He added that collaborating with industry stakeholders has led to notable improvements across the supply chain.

"Our dockworkers should be commended for a successful March by going above and beyond to keep goods moving," Steven Neal,  Long Beach Harbor Commission President commented.

The port noted that although March is traditionally one of the slowest months on the shipping calendar, the Port of Long Beach continues to be busier amid efforts to clear cargo from the docks and reduce the number of vessels waiting to enter the port complex.

The Port noted that it also delayed the start of a "Container Dwell Fee" that would charge ocean carriers for containers that remain too long on the docks.

Still, the San Pedro Bay ports – Long Beach and Los Angeles combined – have seen a 49% decline in aging cargo on the docks since the program was announced on October 25.

Best quarter on record

Port of Long Beach said it has moved 2,460,659 TEUs during the first quarter of 2022, a 3.6% increase from the same period in 2021.

"It was also the Port's best quarter overall, breaking the previous record set during the fourth quarter of 2020 by 54,649 TEUs," it added.

The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest container seaport in the United States, the Port handles trade valued at more than US$200 billion annually.