Exports

Years of geopolitical uncertainty and high US tariffs are driving manufacturing out of China and into new destinations.

POLA reported that total October volume, at 725,775 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), was up 7% annually. The Port of Long Beach reported that total October volume, at 755,150 TEU, was up 14% annually.

The Port of Los Angeles reported that total September volume, at 748,440 TEU, was up 5% annually, marking its second consecutive month of annual growth. The Port of Long Beach reported that September marked its highest-volume September on record, with volume at 829,429 TEU, increasing 11.8% annually, and topping the previous September high in 2020 by 78,849 TEU.

Total POLA volume, at 684,291 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), saw a 26.85% annual decline compared to the record-setting July 2022, at 935,423 TEU. The Port of Long Beach reported that total volume came in at 578,249 TEU, down 26.4% annually, compared to July 2022, which POLB said was its highest-volume July in its history.

Total POLA volume, at 833,045 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), was down 4.97% annually, but, despite the decline, this marked the highest-volume month going back to July 2022, which was an all-time record month for POLA. The Port of Long Beach reported that total volume came in at 597,076, down 28.5% compared to June 2022, its highest-volume June on record.

POLA reported that total May volume came in at 779,140 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), representing a 19.5% annual decline. And the Port of Long Beach reported that May volume fell 14.9% annually, coming in at 758,225 TEU.

Research from consultancy Kearney has found that 96% of CEOs are evaluating reshoring their operations, have already done so, or are considering it. That is up from 78% in 2022. That same report also found that American imports of Mexico-manufactured goods have increased from $320 billion pre-pandemic to $402 billion today.

Total POLA volume—at 688,110 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) fell 22% compared to April 2022, which marked the second highest-volume month on record for POLA. And he Port of Long Beach reported that total April volume—at 656,049 TEU—was down 20.1% compared to April 2022, the port’s highest-volume April on record.

A theme within freight transportation, supply chain, and logistics circles, which is always among the key “top of mind” themes, is the state of the economy, from various perspectives, whether it be, in our case, a freight or macroeconomic perspective.

Total March volume—at 623,233 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—came in just over the port’s initial expectations for the month. While this marked a 35% annual decline, POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka said that it was up against the highest-volume March on record for POLA.

Total October POLA volume—at 678,429 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—fell 25% annually, and total October POLB volume fell16.6% annually, to 658,428 TEU.

Total May POLA volume—at 967,900 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—was off 4.36% annually, while still marking its third-highest-volume month on record. And total May POLB volume came in at 890,989 TEU, down 1.8% compared to May 2021, but representing the second-highest-volume month in the port's history.

Total February POLA volume—at 857,764 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—represented a 7.3% annual increase, for the highest-volume February in the port’s 115-year history, topping the previous record set in February 2020. And February POLB volume—at 796,560 TEU—headed up 3.2% annually, following a record January.

Total January POLA volume—at 865,595 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were up 3.6% annually, marking the highest-volume January in POLA’s 115 years of operations. And total January POLB data—at 800,943 TEU—saw a 4.8% annual increase, marking the first time the port processed more than 800,000 TEU in January and topping the previous record set in January 2021.

Total 2021 POLA volume—at 10,677,609 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 1,464,213 TEU, or 15.89%, annually, topping 2020 by 13%, and setting a new annual record, too, topping the previous high set in 2018. POLB reported that calendar year 2021 volume—at 9,384,368 TEU—was up 15.7% annually, setting a new annual record, topping the previous record of more than 8.11 million TEU set in 2020.