The number of shipping containers coming into the Port of Los Angeles continues to decline, while the number of exports keeps rising, the port said Monday.

The port said that container numbers for February were down 9.8 percent year-over-year to 318,444. This is the second consecutive month of declines. In-bound containers were down 5 percent in January.

However, exports continue to increase jumping 30 percent in February to 154,127. Exports also jumped 19 percent in January.

Imports are down, experts have said, partly because of the slowing economy and partly because the lower value of the dollar makes them more expensive. At the same time, the lower dollar makes U.S. exports relatively cheaper, so they are increasing.

When combined with the neighboring Port of Long Beach, the L.A./Long Beach port complex is the busiest in the United States, handling about 40 percent of all containerized imports. The first quarter of the year is generally a slow period for the ports.