Bill Mongelluzzo, Associate Editor | Jan 17, 2012 2:42PM EST
Containerized exports increased 9.2 percent in December at the Port of Los Angeles, capping off the second straight year of record exports at the nation’s largest port.
Imports increased 6.4 percent and total cargo volume was up 6 percent compared to December 2010. For the calendar year, Los Angeles reported a 14.5 percent increase in exports over 2010. Imports were up 2.3 percent and total container volume, including empties, was up 1.4 percent for the year.
With exports at record levels for two consecutive years, Los Angeles is demonstrating that its efforts to assist businesses, such as the port’s TradeConnect program, are producing results, said Geraldine Knatz, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles. The port will invest $1.5 billion in capital expansion projects over the next five years as part of its long-term strategy to accommodate growing cargo volumes, she said.
The neighboring Port of Long Beach, which reported its year-end numbers last week, was down 3.2 percent compared to calendar year 2010. Long Beach’s numbers were down most of the year because Hyundai Merchant Marine and its terminal operator, California United Terminals, moved to Los Angeles.
As a port complex, Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2011 handled 14,001,596 20-foot container units, which was down 1 percent from 2010.
-- Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @billmongelluzzo.
