Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, has predicted the port’s April container volumes to reach 890,000 TEU.
This would cement the month as Los Angeles’ second-busiest April in its history, only trailing last April’s 946,000 TEU mark.
The Executive Director outlined his prediction during a media briefing where he also discussed the upcoming longshore labor contract negotiations with Jim McKenna, President and CEO of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).
The pair noted that despite COVID-19 lockdowns in China, there has been no dramatic change in the amount of vessels or cargo leaving the country.
“While conditions could change,” said Seroka, “I don’t foresee a bust coming in Trans-Pacific trade. More likely, we may see a lull in volume with a fairly quick bounce back when the lockdowns end.”
The Port of Los Angeles also recently completed its best quarter ever, moving a record 2,682,034 in Q1 2022, a 3.5 per cent increase compared to Q1 2021.
In March, a total of 958,674 TEU passed through the port’s facilities. Loaded imports reached 495,196 TEU, a 1 per cent year-on-year increase, loaded exports came in at 11,781 TEU, down 9 per cent year-on-year.
Empty containers climbed to 351,697 TEU, a jump of 2 per cent compared to March 2021.
