Port of Los Angeles container volumes increase in October

The Port of Los Angeles has released its October 2012 cargo volumes. Overall volumes increased .82 percent compared to October 2011.

Imports decreased 1.07 percent, from 368,842 Twenty-Foot Equivalent (TEU) containers in October 2011 to 364,881 TEUs this October. Exports decreased 7.10 percent, from 193,547 TEUs in October 2011 to 179,810 TEUs in October 2012.

Combined, total loaded imports and exports for October decreased 3.15 percent, from 562,390 TEUs last October to 544,692 TEUs in October 2012. Factoring in empties, which increased 15.66 percent year over year, overall October 2012 volumes (718,406) increased .82 percent compared to October 2011 (712,586 TEUs).

For the first ten months of 2012, overall container volumes have increased 4.69 percent (6,906,578 TEUs) compared to the same period in 2011 (6,596,933 TEUs).

POLA Director of Media Relations Philip Sanfield told LM, that San Pedro Bay figures would be better aligned after the Port of Long Beach weighed in with its report.

As noted here, nation’s largest ocean cargo gateway recently announced major new investment in its infrastructure.

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved construction contracts totaling more than $127 million for two major projects that advance modernization of the marine container terminal operated by longtime tenant, TraPac, Inc. ??With work due to begin in January, the projects are key elements of the Port of Los Angeles’ overall capital improvement program.

The port is investing more than $1.2 billion over five years to remain competitive in the global economy.