Decrease in Port Growth Expected

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International trade and retail experts forecast smooth sailing for cargo moving through the Long Beach-Los Angeles port complex this year, but potentially disruptive congestion problems may be looming, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports.


Following tremendous volume increases in 2005 and 2006, retailers and shippers are reporting slower growth this year as the national economy, dragged by a slumping housing market, begins to cool.


Still, it’s expected that the L.B.-L.A. seaport, the nation’s largest, will efficiently handle between 8 and 10 percent more volume than last year, according to experts who spoke Tuesday at the third annual Pulse of the Ports economic forecast, hosted by the Port of Long Beach.


“We do not expect a lot of excitement in 2007, thank God,” said Bill Rooney, a Hanjin Shipping executive and conference speaker. “We see the excitement coming a bit down the road.”


The “down the road” concerns that Rooney and others noted Tuesday refer to new federal ID card regulations for port workers, local environmental mandates on port industry, a lack of container terminal space and upcoming labor negotiations.


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