Peak season starts slowly in Long Beach
The annual "peak" shipping season began modestly at the Port of Long Beach, as warehouses remained overstocked and consumer demand continued to shift toward travel and other summer activities.
Last month, dockworkers and terminal operators in Long Beach moved 682,312 TEUs, translating to a 15.4% decrease from August 2022. Imports fell 15.4% to 325,436 TEUs, while exports fell 23.1% to 93,402 TEUs. The number of empty containers passing via the Californian port fell 12.5% to 263,474 TEUs.
During the first eight months of 2023, the Port handled 4,993,237 TEUs, representing a 24.4% decline over the same period in the previous year. Cargo flows have remained comparable to pre-pandemic levels this year, according to the port's announcement.
"We anticipated a modest peak season as our cargo numbers continue to stabilize at pre-pandemic levels," stated Mario Cordero, CEO of Port of Long Beach.
He added, "Over the long term we are strengthening our competitiveness by investing in digital and physical infrastructure projects that will keep goods moving efficiently for decades to come."