The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles kicked off 2016 with a record surge of traffic.

The Port of Los Angeles in January handled 704,398 TEUs (or 20-foot equivalent container units, the industry unit of measurement). That was an increase of 33 percent compared to January 2015. It was the busiest January in the port’s 109-year history, according to a statement from the port.

Imports at the port surged 41.6 percent while exports increased 1.5 percent. Empty containers increased 44 percent.

Meanwhile, January marked the Port of Long Beach’s seventh straight month of cargo increases, with a 24.8 percent jump in container shipments over the same month last year, according to statistics it released Wednesday. Its terminals moved 536,188 TEUs.

Imports were up 30.3 percent while exports increased 8.4 percent. Empty containers rose 28.6 percent.

The chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, Jon Slangerup, credited its recent growth to it being, “the seaport of choice” for trans-Pacific trade because the port is the shortest, fastest and most cost effective gateway for multi-modal movement of goods from Asia to America’s major consumer markets.

“Record January volumes is a very encouraging way to start 2016, particularly after the slow start that West Coast ports experienced last year,” said Gene Seroka, the Port of Los Angeles executive director, in reaction to its January gains. “As cargo owners replenish their inventories after the holiday season, our terminals and supply chain partners continue to demonstrate progress in moving larger container volumes per ship call.”