L.A. Port Numbers Down, Long Beach Up

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    The Port of Los Angeles on Thursday reported lower container volume in January compared with the previous year.

    The number of containers moving through the port fell to 669,000 units, down 4.3 percent compared with the same month last year.

    Imports fell to 337,428 containers last month, down 5.3 percent compared with the same month in 2012. Exports fell 5.4 percent to 168,427 units.

    French shipping line CMA CGM Group moved a weekly ship call from Los Angeles to the neighboring Port of Long Beach last year, which lowered the L.A. numbers and gave Long Beach a boost.

    The Port of Long Beach on Thursday said January container volume increased almost 18 percent in January to 536,263 units. Imports rose almost 20 percent and exports increased 8.2 percent.

    Long Beach said the jump was because of the addition of CMA and another new shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Co., along with the more frequent use of larger ships.