The ports each had a highly productive June, with cargo volumes being among the highest monthly totals for their respective facilities in at least 18 months.

Dockworkers at the Port of Los Angeles processed 827,757 TEUs of cargo in June, while their peers at the Port of Long Beach handled 842,446 TEUs. It was L.A.’s fourth best month since the start of 2023 and Long Beach’s best month in the same 18-month window; it also set a new June record in Long Beach, usurping June 2022’s prior record by about 7,000 units.

Consumer spending driving growth

On the half-year, both ports have combined to handle more than 9.02 million TEUs – 20-foot equivalent units – which represents a significant improvement from last year’s mark of nearly 7.88 million. That’s nearly 15% in growth.

“We are recapturing market share and consumer spending is driving cargo to our docks as we head into the peak shipping season,” said Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Mario Cordero. “I see modest growth for the second half of 2024 as we strengthen our competitiveness and continue to invest in our rail infrastructure projects that will maximize cargo velocity efficiently and sustainably for decades to come.”

Strong imports match economy

Of the June totals, L.A. processed 428,753 import TEUs, slightly below its import numbers last year. On the export side, L.A. continued its growth pattern, loading 122,515 export TEUs. Meanwhile, Long Beach processed 419,698 import TEUs and 98,300 export TEUs.

The balance of remaining TEUs represents empty containers in either direction.

Year over year, imports have climbed significantly. Netted out, the 848,451 import TEUs this past June represent a nearly 20% increase over last year’s figure of 709,632 TEUs.

Port officials attributed the growth to the strength of the American economy. A plurality of American imports go through either of these two facilities, so the San Pedro Bay port complex is often used as a barometer for the strength of American purchasing power.

“The U.S. economy continues to be the primary driver of our cargo volume and I expect to see that continue in the months ahead,” Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of L.A., said. “We have ample capacity on our docks to efficiently handle more goods as retailers and e-commerce outlets begin to move fall fashion, Halloween and year-end holiday items through the supply chain.”

Cargo dwell times showed some steadying or improvement in June as well.

According to the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, local delivery cargo spent an average of 2.7 days at port terminals before being loaded onto drayage trucks in June; May’s average dwell time for local cargo was 2.47 days.

Rail-destined cargo saw a more significant change, in the right direction. In June, cargo waited at port terminals on average for 4.73 days before being loaded on trains. In May, that average of 6.44 days.