Port Traffic Metrics: Long Beach, Los Angeles, Virginia

Los Angeles First Half CY 2016  Container Volumes Up 6 Percent

First half 2016 data for the Port of Los Angeles show container movements amounting to 4.1 million TEUs, an increase of 5.9 percent from the January-June 2015 total of 3.9 million TEUs.

"We’re encouraged with year over year growth in the first half of 2016, even though June was not as robust as the same period in 2015 due to industry trade patterns," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. "We are hard at work with our stakeholders optimizing supply chain efficiencies, building unparalleled infrastructure and listening to our customers."

In June, cargo volumes dropped 6.3 percent compared to a strong June in 2015, reflecting declines of 3.5 percent for inbound loads,2.1 percent for outbound loads, and 14.2 percent for empty containers. View current and past Port of Los Angeles container traffic data.

Long Beach Container Traffic: June Imports Higher, First Half Total Steady

June container throughput at the Port of Long Beach totaled 603,339 TEUs, an increase of 3.4 percent from June 2015.

Inbound loads accounted for 315,526 TEUs (-5.5 percent), outbound loads for 128,099 (-0.1 percent), and empty containers for 161,714 TEUs (+2.2 percent).

The year-to-date total of 3.3 million TEUs was down 0.6 percent compared to January-June 2015.

"Our improving cargo volumes reflect the confidence that customers continue to have in the Port of Long Beach," said CEO Jon Slangerup. "This is an encouraging sign despite soft consumer demand, high inventory levels and an evolving maritime industry as shipping lines continue to consolidate vessel services."

View the latest container traffic data.

Virginia FY 2016 Container Tally Hits 2.57 Million TEUs; Gains for Barge, Rail, Inland Port Traffic

The Port of Virginia reports a fiscal year container traffic total for 2015-16 of 2.6 million TEUs, a 2.5 percent increase from FY 2014-15. The June count alone was up 1.5 percent, thanks to a 7.5 percent import gain.

"We finished fiscal year 2016 in positive territory, but our gains were very modest," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "We forecast for muted container volumes and that was on-target. We are approaching peak cargo season and we expect to see some gains, but they will also be modest."

Other fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) highlights:

• Total containers: 1,460,704 (+1.3 percent)
• Total rail containers: 511,096 (+9.7 percent)
• Virginia Inland Port (VIP) containers: 40,499 (+12.3 percent)
• Richmond Marine Terminal barge containers: 16,347 (+ 15.8 percent)

View the PDF for further detail.

The port on July 11 hosted the first of a new class of 10,100 TEU container ships that will be regular callers following the opening of the new Panama Canal locks. MOL Benefactor is also the largest container ship ever to visit Virginia, exceeding by 500 TEUs the capacity of the previous record holder.

"Starting at the end of this month, we will see a series five vessel calls, each with 10,300-TEU capacity, come to Virginia," Mr. Reinhart said. "During the next 12-18 months, the ships calling here will get progressively bigger – the 12,000-TEU range – and there will be larger cargo volumes associated with those vessels. There will be another jump in size after that, so we are preparing accordingly and are discussing those plans out in the market."