The US Port of Long Beach sets a new record in volume and may continue to spike when China reopens

16/05/2022

Last April, the second largest port of the US - Long Beach recorded a new record in the volume of goods transported through here. However, this new record may be broken when China is expected to reopen after the blockade due to the Covid-19 epidemic in the next few months.

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According to statistics, in April alone, Long Beach port handled more than 800,000 TEUs of goods transported by containers, up 10% compared to the previous record. This is also the fourth consecutive month that the Port of Long Beach has recorded a new cargo record.

“Cargo continues to be shipped in record volumes and is unlikely to slow down any time soon,” said Mario Cordero, Long Beach Port Operations Manager. We are bracing for a possible summer spike as China recovers from a prolonged Covid-19 shutdown. Shippers are rapidly moving imports and cargo leaving ports. , ports will stay open longer, and we are working to perfect our supply chain intelligence data tracking solution.”

Ocean carriers are now facing scrutiny in providing shipping services to US exporters. That is why exports in April fell by 1.8% . Meanwhile, April imports reached 400,803 TEUs, up 9.2%. The volume of empty containers passing through the port also reached 298,039 TEUs, up 16.9%

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The Chairman of the Long Beach Port Commission said: “We are working closely with industry stakeholders to quickly move cargo out of the harbor and make room for the next wave of containers. As supply chains continue to catch up, the Port of Long Beach will continue to serve as a trusted partner in trans-Pacific trade.”

In the announcement of the port of Long Beach, it was also emphasized that the expected shippers will be busier than usual due to the impact of the blockade caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, which has gradually been controlled back in China. Although the port of Long Beach has recorded a continuous increase in cargo volume year-to-date, the effects of inflation, reduced demand in the United States, and uncertainty about China's reopening date and the war in Ukraine make predictions about growth in containerized goods uncertain.