Traffic at the Port of Los Angeles surged 34 percent in March compared with the same month last year, according to the figures released Wednesday.

More than 675,000 containers moved through the port in March. Exports increased 21 percent and imports jumped 42 percent year to year. Empty containers, which were sent overseas to be filled with goods, were up 36 percent.

The port said in that the significant increase was partly due to the timing of Chinese New Year celebration. Port activities slowed significantly around the time of Chinese New Year and gradually recovered after it.

For comparison, cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach declined 1.9 percent year to year due to harsh weather in the Midwest and East Coast, the port said Tuesday. Also, some shipping lines suspending services or switching to the Port of Los Angeles.