The Port of Los Angeles saw its March cargo fall as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak started to take a toll. 

America's number 1 container port moved 449,568 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in March, a 30.9% decrease compared to last year.

For the first quarter of 2020, volumes have also decreased 18.5% compared to 2019, the lowest amount of monthly cargo moving through the Port since February 2009. 

“We’ve had two serious shocks to our supply chain system. First the trade war between the US and China and now the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

“With US retailers and cargo owners scaling back orders, volumes are soft even though factories in China are beginning to produce more. Amidst this public health crisis, there will be uncertain months ahead in the global supply chain,” he added.

Meanwhile, Port officials are in regular contact with terminal operators, longshore unions, and other supply chain stakeholders to make sure that stakeholders are able to obtain the necessary supplies they need for a safe and clean work environment.

March imports decreased 25.9% to 220,255 TEUs during the period compared to the previous year. Exports also decreased by 23.8% to 121,146 TEUs. Empty containers declined 44.5% to 108,168 TEUs. In total, March volumes totalled 449,568 TEUs.

Port remains open

The Port of Los Angeles said it remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as the temporary homeport of the Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy.

North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs in the five-county Southern California region.