LA Exports Rose 15 Percent in November

A 15 percent increase in exports in November over November 2010 assured the Port of Los Angeles that it will have another record year in containerized exports, according to the port's Web site.

The 195,877 20-foot loaded export containers handled in November pushed the port’s exports for the first 11 months of 2011 past the total for all of 2010, which itself was a record year. Los Angeles is on pace to exceed 2 million TEUs of exports in 2011.

Containerized imports in November were up 6.2 percent compared to November of 2010. This is a positive sign, considering that imports at most U.S. ports have been disappointing this year.

November imports were down 3.9 percent from October, consistent with a normal seasonal slowdown, and have fallen month-to-month for the last three months in a row.

The Los Angeles year-over-year numbers received a boost earlier this year when Hyundai Merchant Marine shifted its operations there from neighboring Long Beach.

Los Angeles’ total container volume, including empties, increased 4.1 percent over November 2010. The port’s total container volume for the first 11 months of 2011 is up 1 percent from the same period last year.

-- Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @billmongelluzzo.