The Port of Los Angeles saw January cargo volumes fall nearly 23 percent compared with the same month a year ago, a result of the slowdowns and partial shutdowns that gripped the local ports during contentions contract negotiations between shipping lines and dockworkers. Those negotiations wrapped up last week.

The number of cargo containers moving through the port fell to 529,400, down 22.7 percent from the 685,500 units the port handled in January 2014. Imports were down 28 percent and exports fell 23 percent.

“The numbers aren’t a surprise to us, and last week’s announcement of a tentative labor agreement between the International Longshore Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association is a major step forward in terms of getting our cargo volumes back on track,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

Seroka said the port is developing solutions to get through the current backlog caused by the congestion and to more efficiently handle the larger container ships calling on the port.

The Port of Long Beach saw similar declines in container cargo volumes last month. Port officials reported an 18.8 percent drop from ongoing congestion and labor strife. Imports and exports fell 23.5 percent and 19.6 percent, respectively.