The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach on Thursday reported higher container volume in February compared with the previous year.

The number of containers moving through the L.A. port increased 17 percent to 614,949 compared with the same month last year. The jump was in contrast with January’s year-over-year numbers, which fell.

The increase was partly driven by a surge in imports to Los Angeles before factories in Asia closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Imports increased 25 percent to 318,547 containers last month. Exports fell 5 percent to 156,690 units.

The Port of Long Beach reported an even bigger jump in volume, with the number of containers rising 37 percent to 530,967 compared with last February.

Imports to Long Beach increased 46 percent to 279,144, while exports increased 17 percent to 140,626.