Trade moving through the Port of Long Beach rose in January as retailers stocked up ahead of the Lunar New Year, when East Asian factories typically close for up to two weeks.
 
The port said dockworkers and terminal operators moved 674,015 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month, up 17.5% from January 2023.

For the period, imports increased 23.5% to 325,339 TEUs, and exports were down 18.1% to 86,525 TEUs.

Empty containers moved through the Port increased by 28% to 262,151 TEUs.

"Retailers stocked their warehouses in January ahead of the slower import activity we typically see during Lunar New Year celebrations," said Mario Cordero, chief executive officer at the Port of Long Beach.

"We are ready to grow our volumes and hope to see continued growth through 2024 as we gradually recapture market share," he added.

Bobby Olvera Jr., president of the Long Beach Harbor Commission, gave a nod to the waterfront workforce and terminal operators that keep the goods moving at the Port of Long Beach.

"We're staying the course by attracting business, operating sustainably and developing projects that will ensure our long-term growth," he said.

Port of Long Beach noted that the strong start to 2024 marks the fifth consecutive monthly year-over-year increase following 13 months of declines in cargo movement at the Port.