Ports of LA, Long Beach Celebrate Banner Start to 2024

By Jeff Martin

The Ports of LA and Long Beach have seen a return to form in 2024, with POLB seeing a 60% increase in cargo volumes from February of last year, while POLB represented a 24.1% increase. LA led the way with 781,434 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in total handled last month, and dockworkers at the Port of Long Beach moved 674,723 TEUs. This continues six months of significant year-over-year gains at the two main West Coast ports since August 2023.

“Our top-notch customer service and ongoing efforts to attract business back to the West Coast are paying off,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said in a statement. “We continue to invest in infrastructure projects that will keep us competitive and sustainable for decades to come.”

Port of L.A. Executive Director Gene Seroka estimated that imports would lag slightly behind from January and February because of the Lunar New Year holiday giving Chinese factory workers time off. He added that L.A. was on track for around 650,000 TEUs this month.

“Overall I like our position as we move into Q2. The market’s confidence in our gateway is as strong as it’s ever been,” he said. “Our operational data shows that cargo is flowing efficiently, and we have additional capacity available to accommodate future demands. The latest data continues to show that the U.S. economy is solid, which continues to bolster consumer confidence. A strong February jobs report, with 270,000 new jobs added, along with an uptick in retail sales, makes it clear that Americans are keeping up with their spending habits.”