Cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach increased by 6 percent in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2015, making it the port’s best best quarter in nine years.

The port handled roughly 1.5 million 20-foot containers between January and March.

The high number comes in spite of a weak March in which cargo volume decreased by 26 percent compared to the same month last year. The slowdown was driven by lower demand in Asia during the Lunar New Year when factories close for two weeks.

“Overall, we are pleased with these results,” said the port’s Chief Executive Jon Slangerup. “The uneven global economy, industry financial pressures, weak U.S. export demand and the introduction of megasized container vessels to West Coast ports have created dynamic conditions for the maritime industry that will continue to play out over the coming year.”