The Port of Long Beach (POLB) set a TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) record for July, moving 882,376 TEUs, up 52.6% from the same month last year and surpassing the previous record set in July 2022 by 12.4%. Imports jumped 60.5% to 435,081 TEUs, exports rose 16.3% to 104,834 TEUs, and empty containers increased 57.8% to 342,462 TEUs. POLB moved approximately 5.2 million TEUs during the first seven months of 2024, up 20% from the same period last year.
POLB attributed the increases to “retailers stocking up on goods headed into the peak shipping season.”
“We’re in a strong position heading into the peak shipping season as consumers purchase back-to-school supplies and shippers move goods ahead of potential tariff increases,” said POLB CEO Mario Cordero. “We have plenty of capacity across our terminals and cargo continues to move efficiently and sustainably at this premier gateway for trans-Pacific trade.”
“Our waterfront workforce continues to move trade through the Port at a record-setting pace,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal. “Our strong partnerships with labor and industry continue to help us meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
