The Port of Los Angeles handled a total of 9,343,192 TEUs in 2017, a 5.5% increase over 2016, according to statistics released by the port.

The performance was the first time the port had surpassed 9 million TEUs in a single year and was the most cargo the port had ever moved in its 110-year history.

“We are powering Los Angeles’ economy to new heights every year, because we know that lasting prosperity means investing boldly in jobs, opportunity and growth,” said Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles. “The success of our port tells the story of a city whose moment has arrived – and we will continue pushing forward as we expand our role in the global economy.”

During the year, the port implemented technology upgrades such as the new Port Optimizer digital information portal developed in collaboration with GE Transportation. The optimizer aggregates key cargo data online to facilitate better tracking, projections and productivity. The port also completed infrastructure upgrades at TraPac Container Terminal and Yusen Terminals, Inc. to boost the port’s ability to service increasingly larger ships and to facilitate efficient cargo movement throughout its terminals.

“2017 was a year beyond expectations but it was not by chance,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “Our growth is a direct result of a concerted, multi-year effort by the port and its many partners to maximize efficiency throughout the supply chain. All the collaborative work by a broad range of global maritime stakeholders has delivered these remarkable results.”